Days After Launching Party, YSRTP Chief YS Sharmila Stages Hunger Strike Demanding Jobs For Unemployed

YSRTP leader later sat on fast at the Tadiparti bus stand. Speaking on the occasion, she slammed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for his indifference to the issue of unemployment

YSRTP Chief YS Sharmila.

Hyderabad: Days after launching YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), the party chief YS Sharmila on Tuesday went on a fast in the Wanaparthy district of Telangana demanding the state government to fill the vacancies in government departments. A day after announcing that every Tuesday will be observed as 'unemployment day', Sharmila reached Tadiparthi in Wanaparthy district and consoled the family of an unemployed youth who recently committed suicide.

Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, broke down while consoling Kondal's family members at their house. She offered some financial assistance to the family. The YSRTP leader later sat on fast at the Tadiparti bus stand. Speaking on the occasion, she slammed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for his indifference to the issue of unemployment.

The daughter of late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said that her protest is to wake up CM KCR from the deep slumber. She alleged that the problem of unemployment was driving many youths to suicide. Sharmila, who launched YSRTP last week, said the government should take immediate steps to fill 1.90 lakh vacancies in various government sectors. She said the government needs to recruit over 3 lakh people to fill the vacancies and the posts created with the formation of new districts.

She said 54 lakh unemployed have submitted applications for jobs to Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). She earlier announced that till the government fills the vacancies, her party will observe every Tuesday as unemployment day. She said every Tuesday she will console the family members of the unemployed who died of suicide and sit on a day-long fast near their house.

This is the first public protest by Sharmila after launching her political party on July 8. She vowed to bring back 'Rajanna Rajyam', a reference to the welfare rule of her late father. Rajasekhara Reddy had implemented several pro-poor and welfare schemes when he was the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.

(With inputs from IANS)