Rahul Gandhi (ANI image)
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a fresh attack on the BJP-led government, this time accusing it of being a “paper chor” amid rising outrage over examination leaks in Uttarakhand. The remarks come weeks after he alleged large-scale electoral fraud, which he termed “vote chori,” during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Today, BJP’s other name is – Paper Thief! The repeated paper leaks happening across the country have ruined the lives and dreams of millions of hardworking youth.”
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Sharing a video of protesting students from Uttarakhand, the Congress leader said the recent Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) paper leak reflected the failure of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. “The UKSSSC paper leak in Uttarakhand is its latest example. Lakhs of youth toiled day and night, but BJP has dashed all their hard work through theft,” he added.Three pages of the UKSSSC question paper had surfaced online after an exam in Haridwar, prompting outrage among aspirants. Police later arrested Khalid Malik, who allegedly sneaked in a mobile phone hidden in his socks, clicked pictures of the paper in a washroom and circulated them. The state government suspended an assistant professor, the sector magistrate and two police personnel, while chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. Protests, hunger strikes and rallies by unemployed youth have spread across towns including Dehradun, Haldwani, Almora and Uttarkashi, with demands for exam cancellation and a CBI inquiry.The Congress leader linked the paper leak issue with his earlier charge of “vote chori,” arguing that unemployment and electoral malpractice were connected. “Unemployment is today’s biggest problem in the country, and it is directly linked to vote theft. The paper thieves know – even if the youth don’t get jobs, they will remain in power by stealing votes in elections,” he posted.Earlier, on August 7, Gandhi had alleged that over 100,000 votes were “stolen” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment through duplicate entries, fake addresses and bulk registrations. He presented documents which he claimed were from Election Commission records, but officials have contested their authenticity. The Election Commission has since asked him to submit proof in the form of a signed affidavit or apologise for the allegations.Calling the paper leak crisis a matter of “justice and democracy,” Gandhi declared his support for students. “The youth are on the streets and chanting the slogan – ‘Paper Thief, Leave the Throne!’ This is not just a fight for the youth’s jobs; this is a fight for justice and democracy. I stand firmly with every student and youth in this fight for justice.” Go to Source
