Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Centre over alleged malpractices in the Union Public Service Commission and said the prime minister and minister for personnel must come clean over the issues.
Kharge charged the Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS is indulging in institutional takeover of India's constitutional bodies, affecting its reputation and integrity. “BJP-RSS is systematically indulging in an institutional takeover of India's Constitutional bodies, thereby damaging their reputation, integrity and autonomy! The multiple scandals that have plagued the UPSC is a cause of national concern,” Kharge tweeted.
Kharge’s charges come as UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni resigned and a probe by the Commission found fraudulent attempts by an IAS trainee Puja Khedkar to attain her candidature.
“PM Modi and his Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions must come clean. Numerous cases of unqualified individuals faking caste and medical certificates seemed to have duped a 'foolproof' system. This is a direct affront to the genuine aspirations of lakhs of aspirants, including SC, ST, OBC, EWS candidates who work hard, burning midnight oil in preparing for the Civil Services Examinations,” he said.
The Congress president questioned why the Centre kept UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni’s resignation a secret for over a month. “It is disconcerting how the UPSC Chairperson has resigned prematurely, five years before his term ends. Why was his resignation kept secret for a month? Is there any connection between the numerous scandals and the resignation?” Kharge asked.
The Congress president said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel referred to the civil servants as the 'Steel frame of India', but Modi government’s attempts to control every aspect of governance have punched holes in it. Kharge demanded a thorough investigation into the matter to prevent such fraudulent practices in UPSC admissions in future.
Congress Communications Secretary Jairam Ramesh said it was evident Manoj Soni would be dropped given the controversy surrounding UPSC. “Narendra Modi brought in one of his favourite 'academics' from Gujarat as a UPSC member in 2017 and made him chairman for a six-year term in 2023. But this so-called eminent gentleman has now resigned five years before his term ends. Whatever the reasons given, it was clearly evident that he would be dropped considering the current controversy surrounding UPSC,” he tweeted.
UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni has tendered his resignation and officials in the know of the developments said he resigned owing to personal reasons.
