Blind Persons Association in Himachal Protests Over Backlog Recruitment, Threatens to Set Self Ablaze

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In a dramatic show of discontent, the Blind Persons Association of Himachal Pradesh marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities as a 'black day' on Wednesday. The association, protesting the government's failure to fulfill their long-standing demand for backlog recruitment, threatened to set themselves ablaze outside the official residence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu if their demands are not met by December 10. The protesters, who have been sitting outside the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, blocked the Sanjauli-Old Bus Stand road and had a minor scuffle with police personnel deployed to control the situation. They also had a heated argument with Sub Divisional Magistrate Shimal Oshin Sharma, who attempted to calm the protesters. Rajesh Thakur, one of the protesters, expressed frustration over the government's inaction, saying, 'Thousands of posts are vacant, but the government is not recruiting us. We want to ask the Chief Minister, are those posts reserved for his relatives? Why isn't he meeting with us?' The association has been struggling to get their demands fulfilled for the past two and a half years. They claim that instead of addressing their concerns, the government has disbanded the SAHARA scheme and the UDID bus pass service. In a desperate bid to draw attention, the protesters have announced a protest and 'gherao' of the Chief Minister's residence on December 10, and have threatened to commit suicide by setting themselves on fire if their demands are not met.