Youth Congress Protests Cancellation of Firefighter, Driver Recruitment Process

Agartala, Apr 22, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: April 22: The Youth Congress launched a protest on Monday against the sudden cancellation of the recruitment process for firefighter and driver positions in the Tripura Fire Service. Accusing the state government of betrayal, Youth Congress leaders and supporters marched through the city, demanding justice and transparency.

The protest began from the Congress Bhavan and moved through various streets before ending in a clash with the police. Tensions escalated, leading to the detention of several protestors, who were subsequently taken to the AD Nagar Police Line grounds.

Speaking to the media, Youth Congress President Neelkamal Saha condemned the BJP-led state government for playing with the future of the youth. He said, “Time and again, the BJP government promises employment opportunities to the youth, but these promises are rarely fulfilled. The cancellation of this recruitment process is yet another example of their insincerity.”

Saha explained that the recruitment process for firefighters and drivers began in 2022, with both physical and written examinations held shortly thereafter. However, after years of waiting, the process was abruptly scrapped in 2025, leaving thousands of aspirants in distress. He demanded a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the cancellation and questioned the government's silence on the matter.

“Why were three years of the youths’ lives wasted? Who will be held accountable for this failure? This is not just mismanagement—it reeks of corruption,” Saha alleged. He demanded that those responsible for derailing the recruitment process be identified and punished immediately.

The protest reflects growing frustration among unemployed youth in the state, with the Youth Congress vowing to intensify its agitation if their demands are not met. The incident also highlights increasing political tension over employment issues in Tripura ahead of the upcoming elections.