TET Leak Fury: Maharashtra Opposition Demands Probe, BJP Links Alleged
TET Leak Fury: Maharashtra Opposition Demands Probe, BJP Links Alleged
Massive protests erupted in the Maharashtra Assembly over the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak. Opposition leaders allege links to the BJP, demanding a comprehensive probe as arrests are made and a Bihar kingpin
Protests and walkouts rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Monday as Opposition members voiced strong condemnation against the state government's perceived failure to prevent examination paper leaks, including the recent Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Legislators gathered on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan before staging a walkout from the House, accusing the administration of a 'total failure' in safeguarding the integrity of crucial examinations.
Senior leaders, including Nana Patole, intensified the allegations by claiming that individuals behind not only the TET but also the NEET leaks have connections to the BJP. They collectively demanded a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the entire examination process, calling for accountability and transparency. The Youth Congress also joined the fray, staging protests and demanding the resignation of the Maharashtra Education Minister over the alleged TET paper leak.
Opposition members, led by prominent figures such as Congress's Satej Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad, chanted slogans against the state government. They also raised concerns over the decision to conduct Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations in an online mode, questioning its security and fairness.
Inside the House, Congress Legislature Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar asserted that repeated paper leaks have severely damaged Maharashtra's reputation and jeopardized the future of lakhs of students and teachers across the state. He demanded an immediate suspension of proceedings to address the issue, questioning the government's inability to conduct examinations transparently despite the immense dedication of candidates preparing for years.
Wadettiwar called for a comprehensive probe into the TET paper leak, scrutinizing not only the agencies responsible for preparing question papers but also the companies involved in the examination process and the broader network facilitating this alleged racket. He highlighted that while three individuals have been arrested, their suspected connections to people in other states suggest a much larger, inter-state operation that needs to be exposed. The investigation has expanded beyond Maharashtra, with authorities actively searching for an alleged mastermind from Bihar who is believed to have been involved in paper leaks across four states for 25 years.
The three suspects arrested in connection with the TET paper leak have been remanded in police custody until July 6. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination was forced to cancel the June 28 exam, directly impacting over six lakh aspiring candidates. Investigators are now focused on tracing the alleged mastermind and other wanted accused across multiple states to uncover the full extent of the leak's source and the intricate money trail involved. Reference was also made to the 2018 TET scam, indicating a recurring pattern of examination irregularities in the state.
