NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has expressed concern over the escalating protests nationwide concerning examination paper leaks, stating that the politicisation of these movements is adversely affecting normal public life across various states. She urged the government and the courts to intervene and facilitate an amicable resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Addressing the widespread unrest, Mayawati noted that protests, particularly those related to the NEET examination irregularities, have garnered significant attention, leading to an uproar that has reached from the streets to Parliament. She cautioned that the politicisation of these student-led demonstrations has transformed them into direct confrontations with the government, a situation she believes is detrimental to the nation’s stability.
The BSP chief emphasised the need to extricate the country from this challenging situation, highlighting that the disruption extends beyond the national capital, Delhi, to numerous other states. In a statement that drew parallels, she remarked that issues such as alleged financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Temple and the prevalent paper leaks in examinations are fundamentally rooted in corruption that has infiltrated various levels of society.
Mayawati underscored the importance of constitutional morality, a principle she believes is being eroded, likening its absence to the destructive work of termites. She referenced Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, who, she noted, placed significant emphasis on constitutional morality for ensuring good governance.
Advocating for a constructive approach, Mayawati suggested that the government and constitutional institutions, including the judiciary, should take the initiative to address these pressing public interest issues. She criticized the tendency of various political parties to exploit public movements for their narrow political gains, which she stated often leads to conflict and violence.
The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also commented on the specific situation in the state regarding the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) examinations. She questioned the necessity of conducting examinations like the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) and RO-ARO over multiple days, suggesting that UP may lack the basic facilities to conduct them in a single shift. Mayawati stressed that preventing paper leaks and ensuring the credibility of examinations are crucial issues that require streamlined processes, including single-day conduct of exams where feasible.
She further advised the government to adopt a cooperative and sympathetic stance towards students, who are already grappling with the burdens of poverty, unemployment, and inflation. Mayawati urged the government to expedite the recruitment process to fill all backlog vacancies, citing the dire need for employment among the populace. The issue of protracted recruitment processes and exam irregularities has been a recurring concern, leading to widespread student protests in Uttar Pradesh in the past.
The protests over examination irregularities have become a focal point of national discourse, with opposition parties also raising concerns and demanding accountability. The government has indicated steps to address the paper leak issue, including the announcement of fast-track courts for speedy trials of such cases.
The Chenab Times News Desk