Jammu, May 24 -- Raman Bhalla on Sunday strongly criticised the government's decision to freeze vacant posts under austerity measures, terming it a "cruel joke" on the educated unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a public gathering at Rajeev Nagar in Jammu, the former minister said the move would worsen the unemployment crisis in the Union Territory and shatter the hopes of thousands of qualified youth aspiring for government jobs.
Bhalla urged the administration to immediately review and withdraw the decision, saying austerity measures should not come at the cost of employment generation.
"The burden of austerity should not be placed on the shoulders of unemployed youth. If the government is serious about reducing expendit...