Tejashwi Yadav asks Piyush Goyal to cancel rail exam
3 min readPatna: Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has written to Union railway minister Piyush Goyal, urging him to cancel the group C and D exams scheduled on August 9 and announce a rescheduled exam date which is convenient for aspirants from Bihar, as exam centres are located far away.
In his letter to the railway minister on Tuesday, Tejashwi said reaching distant exam centres was going to be a “mental and financial torture” for Bihari aspirants. He said most Bihari aspirants would have to travel 1,000-1,500km to be able to write the exam. “Some aspirants have to go to Mohali and others Chennai or Bangalore,” he said, pointing out that majority of the examinees hailed from middle or lower middle class families. “They are financially weak and cannot travel by a reserved train seat. Travelling by general bogey is the only alternative,” Tejashwi said. “Even for those who can afford it, the railways has not given sufficient time to book seats.”
“Holding first stage computer-based test for assistant loco pilots and technicians at a distance of over a 1,000 km from the district headquarters of Munger is a cruel joke,” said Aaditya Pratap Yadav, district president of Jan Adhikar Chhatra Parishad, Munger. Aaditya said he was an aspirant for the post of technician. “My admit card shows my exam centre as Saugor in Madhya Pradesh, 978km from Munger. My exam is on August 30. Tickets on most MP-bound trains are wait-listed. Besides, a to and fro journey, food and lodging will cost around Rs 4,000,” Aaditya said. “I’ve sent a request letter written in blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praying that the exams be held in the home states of aspirants and to extend exam dates immediately.”
Tejashwi pointed out there were no direct trains to many of the centres. He said examinees would have to leave for their destination at least 2-3 days in advance to reach on time. “Why can’t there be 3-4 exam centres in their home state,” he asked Goyal. He also urged him to cancel the exams and issue fresh dates.
Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party has threatened a chakka jaam agitation on the same issue from 9am on Wednesday.
“I request the Prime Minister and railway minister to extend exam dates and hold exams in the home states of aspirants,” said Amit Kumar, an aspirant for the post of technician hailing from Muksuspur locality of Munger town. “My exam centre is in Noida, 1,230km from Munger. I’ve to face a lot of hardship undertaking this journey. I must appear at the exam and not lose this chance. But the railway minister should hold exams in the home-states of candidates,” said Uteshwar Kumar, an aspirant for the post of technician.
Aaditya Kumar, another candidate from Munger, however, supported the railway recruitment board’s decision to hold exams at centres so far away. “This will help check malpractices” said Aaditya, an aspirant for the post of technician.
Courtesy: The Telegraph
