SHIMLA: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh has intensified its offensive against the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government over allegations of fraudulent practices and paper leaks in state recruitment examinations.
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur accused the ruling administration of playing with the future of the state’s youth, stating that the Congress government’s role in these recruitment irregularities has come under a severe cloud of suspicion.
Thakur questioned the government’s intentions, alleging that rather than taking strict action against the culprits, the state administration is actively shielding them. He noted that this indifferent approach has led to a complete breakdown of trust among lakhs of youth in Himachal Pradesh, who had anticipated a transparent selection process.
Allegations of Mass Cheating in Police Exam
Highlighting the recently conducted police recruitment examination, the former Chief Minister raised serious allegations regarding the integrity of the process. He pointed out that candidate aspirants themselves submitted written complaints detailing open, large-scale cheating inside examination centers.
“Candidates provided information about serious irregularities to both the administration and the government, but to date, no fair or transparent investigation has been ordered. The government’s silence on this issue raises grave questions.”
— Jairam Thakur, Leader of Opposition
Opposition Hits Back at Political Opportunism
Dismissing a recent candle march organized by the Congress as the height of political opportunism, Thakur asserted that the party has no genuine concern for unemployed youth or students’ futures and is merely attempting to gain political mileage. He added that states previously or currently governed by Congress have logged massive recruitment scams.
Citing specific figures, the Leader of Opposition noted that over 22 paper leak instances were reported during Congress rule in Rajasthan, while Chhattisgarh recorded paper leaks across 18 recruitment exams. Given this track record, he stated, the Congress has no moral authority to lecture others.
Charges of Shielding and Promoting Errant Officials
Drawing a contrast with the previous BJP regime, Thakur recalled that when a police recruitment paper leak surfaced during his tenure, his government immediately recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe without any hesitation. The subsequent CBI investigation clearly established the negligence and involvement of certain officials.
However, Thakur alleged, the current Sukhu government, instead of initiating punitive measures against those responsible, assigned them crucial administrative responsibilities and even granted promotions to some. He demanded that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu clarify to the public why action was withheld and why guilty officials are receiving protection.
“The Congress is not fighting for the interests of the youth; it is merely trying to do politics on the shoulders of students and unemployed youth. The state’s youth want a transparent recruitment process, but the Congress government has proven to be a complete failure on this front.”
— Jairam Thakur, Leader of Opposition
Support for Central Law Against Paper Leaks
Praising the central government’s policy measures, Thakur said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, concrete steps are being taken to render the country’s examination system completely secure and transparent. He noted that historical legal provisions are being framed to curb exam mafias and paper leaks.
He stated that these legislative provisions being brought before Parliament will safeguard the interests of the nation’s youth. Despite this, he added, the Congress and its allies are working to disrupt the political atmosphere instead of supporting these positive reforms.
