North Indian job seekers not qualified, says Union minister

Priyanka Vadra accuses the minister of insulting North Indians

Santosh Kumar Gangwar | PTI Santosh Kumar Gangwar | PTI

Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge)  Santosh Kumar Gangwar triggered a controversy on Sunday after he claimed there were few skilled personnel in North India while rejecting any job crisis in the country.

“Hamaare Uttar Bharat mein jo log bhi recruitment karne aate hai, woh iss baat kaa sawaal kar dete hai ki jis pad ke liye hum rakh rahe hai, us quality kaa vyakti humko kam miltaa hai (Recruiters who visit North India complain of facing dearth of quality people for the posts that they need to fill)”, Gangwar said while talking to reporters in Bareilly.

He further said: "The issue of employment keep figuring in newspapers these days. I am handling the same ministry for labour and employment and examine the issue daily. I have understood the problem."

Congress reacted sharply to the minister's statement with party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accusing him of insulting North Indians.

"Mr Minister, it has been more than five years for your government. There is no job creation. Whatever jobs were there, they have been snatched due to the economic slowdown brought by the government. You want to escape by insulting North Indians," the Congress leader said in a tweet.