Student groups demand Bhagat Singh employment act

Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, September 28

On the 113th birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, volunteers of the All-India Students Federation (AISF) and the All-India Youth Federation (AIYF) organised a Volunteer-Sammelan at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here on Monday to raise the demand for a Bhagat Singh National Employment Guarantee Act (BNEGA).

They paid heartfelt tributes to the statue of Bhagat Singh. While a march in favour of the Act, which promises employment to all unemployed youth in the country, was also taken out from the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall to the Press Club chowk. A large number of students participated in the march and raised slogans, praising the legendary revolutionary and criticised the government for ignoring the demands of the youth. Besides, they also announced that a nationwide campaign would be launched from October 17 and a march towards the Parliament would be taken out to get BNEGA passed as a law.

AISF state president Paramjit Singh said: “Youngsters in large numbers are unemployed in the state and such a situation is giving an open chance to private and corporate sector for exploitation of labour. For such youngsters, ‘BNEGA’ will act as a ray of hope.”

He said besides BNEGA Act, students’ federation demanded free education for students in the state as well as equal work opportunities.

Jagroop Singh, the keynote speaker, asked youths to build a nation of equality of Bhagat Singh’s dreams and to reject divisions. He opposed the recently passed farm legislations and demanded the withdrawal of the Bills citing those as death warrants for farmers.