Jai Ram Thakur Criticizes Congress Government Over Police Recruitment Scandal
Thakur's Strong Condemnation of the Government
On Friday, Jai Ram Thakur, the former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and current Leader of Opposition, launched a fierce critique against the Congress-led state administration regarding serious allegations of widespread cheating and irregularities in the police recruitment examination. He labeled the situation as a 'betrayal of the youth of Himachal Pradesh' and urged the government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on ethical grounds.
Allegations of Cheating and Mismanagement
Thakur expressed that the recruitment process has been turned into a farce, citing videos that reveal open cheating, discussions among candidates within exam halls, and group solving of papers. He emphasized that this is not merely a case of mismanagement but a criminal act. 'If the Chief Minister possesses any moral integrity, he should resign,' Thakur stated during a press conference in Shimla.
Concerns Over Recruitment Integrity
He criticized the police recruitment initiative as the only significant hiring effort during the Congress government's two-and-a-half-year term, asserting that the entire process has been compromised. 'This government has dismantled the Staff Selection Commission. After two and a half years, they conducted one police recruitment, which is now under serious scrutiny. Candidates have provided video evidence of cheating occurring in Shimla, Palampur Road, and Chamba,' he remarked. 'If the government is committed to transparency, why not release the CCTV footage from these centers? What are they afraid of?' Thakur questioned.
Serious Allegations of Corruption
Thakur further alleged that mobile phones were permitted inside examination halls, and no invigilators intervened to prevent cheating. He noted that two individuals from the Dehra area of Kangra district were arrested in connection with the case but insisted that such limited arrests cannot rectify a scandal of this scale.
Financial Transactions and Promises
Reports indicate that candidates were lured to Haryana with promises of success in exchange for large sums of money, with transactions reportedly reaching up to Rs 35 lakh. 'Who made these promises? Who were these candidates? At least 15-16 individuals have been called for questioning,' he stated, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive state-level investigation. 'During our tenure, when similar allegations arose, we promptly canceled the exam and initiated an SIT investigation the very next day. We even referred cases to the CBI when necessary.'
Critique of Current Government's Performance
Thakur criticized the current government for its silence and evasiveness. He warned that candidates are concerned that CCTV footage might be destroyed, reminiscent of the Vimal Negi case, where crucial evidence was formatted but later recovered. Reflecting on Congress's promises made before the 2022 Assembly elections, he stated that their commitments are now exposed as empty, with no jobs and no action. 'They pledged 5 lakh government jobs in five years, with 1 lakh in the first year. Now the Chief Minister claims they never made such promises. I was present in the Assembly when the Congress Guarantee Document was read, which clearly stated the 5 lakh jobs. Why the contradiction now?' Thakur questioned.
Concerns Over Job Appointments
He alleged that most appointments during the current administration stemmed from recruitment processes initiated by the previous BJP government, which had already secured budgetary and financial approvals. 'These are not new jobs. The only new recruitment was for police, and look what transpired. Even in the nursing recruitment drive, Congress is outsourcing jobs through agencies linked to their own leaders and relatives,' he remarked.
Outsourcing Practices Under Scrutiny
Thakur condemned the outsourcing model, claiming it is being exploited to evade transparency and provide jobs to Congress loyalists. He criticized the use of outsourcing agencies in nursing and other sectors, alleging that these agencies are managed by Congress leaders and their relatives, with candidates receiving only Rs 6,000 out of the Rs 10,000 allocated per position. 'Candidates are getting Rs 6,000 while Rs 10,000 is allocated; where is the remaining money going? To the agencies run by Congress leaders. Such practices are evident even in my own constituency,' he stated.
Internal Struggles Within the Congress Government
Thakur pointed out that the Congress government is grappling with internal trust issues, citing the resignation of a young minister and the subsequent resignation of his father, a senior cabinet minister. 'Despite having a majority, their own MLAs lack faith in the leadership. In such circumstances, the Chief Minister has no moral right to remain in office,' he asserted. He also mentioned that despite the central government providing substantial disaster relief funds, the state government has failed to distribute aid effectively.
Call for Action and Accountability
'Even 93,000 homes were sanctioned, yet affected individuals remain homeless. The state government is ungrateful and shameless. PM Modi has supported the people of Himachal, but the state administration continues to falter,' he remarked. Thakur demanded that the results of the police recruitment examination be withheld until the investigation concludes and called for an immediate statewide probe under an SIT. 'This government has completely failed on the employment front. If serious allegations like cheating during exams are not investigated, it sends a dangerous message to the youth. I urge the Chief Minister to resign and allow an impartial SIT to uncover the truth,' Thakur concluded.