Chandigarh: Top Haryana Congress functionaries from rival factions shared the stage at a Panchkula protest on Wednesday, with state chief Rao Narender Singh, former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his MP son Deepender Singh Hooda, former state presidents Birender Singh and Udai Bhan rallying behind Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) contractual staff seeking regularisation.Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala’s MLA son Aditya also attended the protest, while Sirsa MP Kumari Selja was absent.The gathering assumed significance as leaders from factions that have remained at odds came together after a considerable gap. Surjewala and Birender are seen as being opposed to the Hoodas and their loyalists. Selja, however, is among the staunchest rivals of Hooda within the Congress.Leading the demonstration outside the HKRN office in Sector 6, Rao Narender demanded a concrete policy to regularise eligible contractual employees and improve their service conditions. He alleged that thousands of youngsters recruited through HKRN had been working in govt departments for years but continued to face uncertainty over their future.“Employing youth on a temporary basis for years cannot be a substitute for providing secure employment,” he said.Hooda said employees who had served the govt for years deserved a secure and dignified future. “Congress will not allow the interests of employees to be compromised,” he said.MPs Varun Mulla and Karmvir Boudh and MLAs B B Batra, Geeta Bhukkal and Aftab Ahmed also addressed the gathering.
