Teachers protest at Singla’s house, detained

Patiala, January 3

Demanding employment, ETT and TET pass teachers protested against the state government here today. They gathered at the Baradari gardens and raised slogans. Meantime, a few teachers, evading the police force, reached the residence of Vijay Inder Singla, Education Minister, and staged a sit-in there. However, the police soon detained all protesting teachers from both sites.

The police have beefed up security outside the residence of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Education Minister. In fact, roads leading to the CM’s residence have completely been blocked. The blockade has caused inconvenience to commuters.

Deep Banarsi, press secretary of the Unemployed ETT and TET Union, said that police had detained them while they were peacefully protesting for their rights. He claimed that the police resorted to mild lathi charge while detaining the protesters near the Baradari gardens.

The protesters said the state government was not serious about their demands. They took exception to the decision of the Education Department to allow BEd graduates to apply for the posts of ETT teachers.

They demanded the Education Department should repeal the provision of BEd entry and advertise 10,000 new posts of ETT teachers immediately.

In the evening, the police released the protesting teachers. Varun Sharma, SP, said an FIR had been lodged for holding protest.

Meanwhile, the protesters said they were released on the condition that they had to leave the district immediately. — TNS

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