MoS stirs row: ‘Jobs aplenty, but north Indians are less qualified’

Lucknow, September 15 

Union Minister of State Santosh Kumar Gangwar has stirred a major controversy by claiming that recruiters were complaining of paucity of “quality people” in northern parts of the country for the posts they wish to fill.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (independent charge) had on Saturday told reporters in Bareilly that there was no dearth of employment in the country, but the recruiters visiting north India complain of dearth of “quality people” here to fill vacancies in their firms.

“The issue of employment keeps figuring in newspapers these days. I am handling the same ministry for labour and employment and examine the issue daily. I have understood the problem,” he said.

“Recruiters who visit north India complain of facing dearth of quality people for the posts that they need to fill. (Hamaare Uttar Bharat mein jo log bhi recruitment karne aate hai, woh iss baat kaa sawaal kar dete hai ki jis pad ke liye hum rakh rahe hai, us quality kaa vyakti humko kam miltaa hai),” the minister had observed.

Gangwar has been criticised for his statement by various parties. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday accused the minister of insulting north Indians. “Mr Minister, it has been more than five years for your government. There is no job creation. Whatever jobs were there, they have been snatched due to the economic slowdown brought by the government. You want to escape by insulting north Indians?” the Congress leader tweeted.

The youths are looking towards the government hoping that it will do something good for them, she added. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said Gangwar’s statement was “insensitive and cruel” towards the youth and had added insult to injury. — PTI

I am handling the ministry for labour and employment and examine the issue daily... recruiters who visit north India complain of facing dearth of quality people for the posts that they need to fill.— Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union minister of state

Mr Minister, it has been more than five years for your government. There is no job creation. Whatever jobs were there, they have been snatched due to the economic slowdown brought by the government. You want to escape by insulting north Indians? — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary