Association alleges police denial to permit peaceful protest, cites ₹10 lakh bond condition

All Karnataka State Students’ Association (AKSSA) president Kantakumar launched a sharp attack on the State government, alleging that it was using the police machinery to stifle a peaceful protest demanding immediate recruitment to vacant government posts.

“The police denied permission for a peaceful protest at the last minute and asked organisers to furnish a ₹10 lakh bond,” he alleged while addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Tuesday (March 24).

Mr. Kantakumar noted that the association had planned a peaceful demonstration from Jagat Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on March 23 and had formally sought police permission on March 17. The organisers were kept waiting until March 22 with repeated assurances, only for permission to be denied abruptly at the last minute. He described the demand for a ₹10 lakh bond as an arbitrary condition imposed to discourage protest.

“If unemployed youth had ₹10 lakh, they would not be on the streets demanding jobs,” he said, questioning the logic behind the condition. He alleged that such actions reflected an attempt to curb democratic dissent through administrative pressure. “This is nothing but an attempt to silence the voices of jobless youth,” he added.

Mr. Kantakumar stated that nearly 2.84 lakh posts remained vacant across various departments in the State. He observed that the lack of recruitment over the past five to six years had worsened unemployment and pushed many young people into distress.

Accusing the government of going back on its assurances, he said it had promised to begin recruitment within 30 days but had failed to act. He warned that any further delay would be unjust to lakhs of aspirants and urged the government to start the recruitment process immediately.

Expressing confidence in the Constitution and the judiciary, he stated that the association had approached the court seeking permission to hold the protest in Kalaburagi city on March 27.

Referring to alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) examinations, he said repeated demands for a probe had gone unheeded. He alleged that the involvement of influential political figures was delaying a proper investigation.

He also criticised the State government for failing to fulfil its promise of filling one lakh posts within a year, noting that even 50,000 posts had not been filled. Mr. Kantakumar warned that youth across the State would intensify their agitation if the government failed to prioritise and begin the recruitment process.