Tripura Pradesh Congress on Sunday strongly criticized the BJP-led state and central governments for allegedly failing to safeguard the interests of job seekers, after physical tests for paramilitary recruitment were held in a remote location in Mizoram.

In a statement, the party said that while recruitment rallies for paramilitary forces were earlier conducted in Tripura with written, physical, and medical tests held in Agartala, this year the venue for the physical examination was abruptly shifted to Jauhasang, a hilly area near Aizawl.

Congress alleged that the sudden decision left candidates unprepared, while poor transport facilities and inflated travel, food, and accommodation costs imposed severe financial stress on aspirants from Tripura. “Many candidates were forced to spend nights on the road, some fell ill, and others sustained injuries while running on rocky and muddy terrain,” the statement added.

According to the party, around 8,000 candidates, including 2,000 girls from Tripura, had qualified in the written test conducted by the Staff Selection Commission between February 4 and 25, with results declared on June 24. However, the physical test, scheduled between August 20 and 28 in Mizoram, caught candidates off guard.

Holding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ministry and the state government responsible, the Pradesh Congress demanded that the girls’ physical tests be shifted to Agartala, all injured or sick candidates receive free medical treatment at government expense, and affected candidates be allowed to appear for a fresh physical examination in Tripura.

“The state government must press the Centre to ensure justice for the unemployed youth of Tripura, instead of blindly following Modi and Amit Shah for political gains,” the statement said.