Jaipur: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday challenged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s assertion that no paper leak had occurred during the last two-and-three-quarter years of his government’s tenure.
In a statement, Gehlot alleged that the Rajasthan government had failed to conduct impartial investigations into complaints related to recruitment examinations.
Referring to the NEET-UG examination, Gehlot alleged that complaints regarding the leak were initially suppressed by the state government and police and that the matter surfaced only after students approached the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The former chief minister also cited several other alleged irregularities, including the reported recovery of the RAS examination paper in an unsealed envelope in Nawalgarh (Jhunjhunu), a lecturer recruitment examination paper allegedly arriving with a broken seal, allegations of cheating during the LDC recruitment examination at Swami Vivekananda Model School in Jaisalmer, and the alleged OMR sheet manipulation case involving a technical head of the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB).
Gehlot further stated that while the BJP government later cancelled the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination, it had initially opposed its cancellation before the Rajasthan High Court and added that candidates protesting over recruitment examinations were subjected to police action.
Drawing a comparison between the previous Congress government and the current BJP administration, Gehlot said that during the Congress tenure, the government had taken stringent action against the alleged paper leak mafia, including over 400 arrests, demolition of properties linked to accused persons, the removal of senior officials, and the enactment of a stringent anti-paper leak law providing for life imprisonment, fines of up to ₹10 crore, and property confiscation.
He also alleged that while the BJP government between 2013 and 2018 failed to curb paper leaks, the Congress government had taken decisive measures against the alleged examination mafia.
Concluding his statement, Gehlot accused the present government of attempting to suppress facts instead of ensuring accountability.
The BJP government had not immediately responded to Gehlot’s allegations. The Chief Minister has previously maintained that no paper leak has occurred during the present government’s tenure.
(IANS)
