Massive Protest Against Paper Leak Forces U-Turn by CM Dhami

Dehradun: The state wide agitation by the youth against recruitment examination paper leak of Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission has forced Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take a U-turn on the issue and agree to conduct a CBI inquiry into the scandal.

The question paper for graduate level recruitment examination held in September was leaked from a centre in Haridwar district forcing the youth across the state to agitate against such frequent recruitment examination paper leaks and other irregularities. The unemployed youth and students started a dharna at Parade Ground in Dehradun while rallies and procession in support of their demands were held in various cities and towns. The common demand was for a CBI probe and the postponement of the examination.

The initial reaction of the state government and its’ functionaries including the police officials was that the full question paper was not leaked, only three pages of the said question paper were sent out. The state government officials and BJP leaders kept on singing this tune till Chief Minister Dhami came up with another interesting claim. Since the candidate who reportedly sent the question paper from his mobile phone to someone outside the examination hall happened to be a Muslim named Khalid Malik, Chief Minister in his time- tested tactics of targeting Muslims in the state termed the episode as “Nakal Jehad’. During his more than four years of tenure, he has invented different kind of ‘jehads’ including ‘Love Jehad’, ‘Land Jehad’, ‘Mazar Jehad’, ‘Thook Jehad’.

Interestingly, few days before the recruitment examination, Hakam Singh along with an accomplice, a mastermind of similar examination leak in 2021, was arrested on charges of promising success for money. Hakam Singh was a ruling BJP leader and a close associate of several senior party leaders including former Chief Ministers.

The ruling party troll army and pliant media, taking a cue from the ruling party, started vilifying the agitation by claiming that leftist and even anti-national elements have penetrated the agitation and they were allegedly instigating the youth. But, sadly for the right- wing ruling party brigade it did not cut much ice amongst the common people particularly youth who continue to agitate in support of their demands. The opposition parties including Left parties, main opposition Congress, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and statehood agitators also extended their support.

With next state assembly elections, to be held in January 2026, in mind and gauging public anger, Chief Minister went to the protest site himself on 29 September and announced a CBI probe into the issue. Earlier, the state government had formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) of police to probe the matter within a month, under monitoring by a retired high court judge.

Chief Minister Dhami claimed that his government believed in a clean and transparent examination and made an emotional appeal to the youth. He said that the case is being investigated by the SIT under the supervision of the retired judge of the High Court. But bowing to the demand of the youth he will recommend a CBI inquiry and there would be no hindrance in it.

The Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress has rejected this announcement. Suryakant Dhasmana, senior vice-president and organising secretary of Uttarakhand Congress said that the proposed programme of the party to ‘gherao’ the residence of Chief Minister stands. He said that it was difficult to believe the BJP since the CBI probe ordered by former BJP Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in the National Highway scandal has not seen the light of the day even after eight years. He further said that the Central Government should immediately accept the recommendation and order a CBI probe within 24 hours. He demanded that the chairman of UKSSSC should be removed forthwith and examination in question should be re-held.

Indresh Maikhuri, secretary of Uttarakhand unit of CPI(ML)in statement said that the BJP governments stands exposed in taking a U- Turn under pressure. “Earlier, they were calling the agitation chaos by some anti-social elements and even officers claimed that it was not a paper leak. Then they tried to vilify the agitation and some of the supporters of youth by describing them as leftists and anti-national. The Chief Minister tried to communalise the issue, calling the leak “Nakal Jehad”, he said.

He further said that the way false information about the youth movement and those who supported them was spread on social media platforms by ruling party troll army was worrisome and shameful. “The kind of rumors that were spread on social media about the agitating young woman Rajni, activist- journalist Trilochan Bhatt and other agitators on social media platforms was utterly shameful and strict action should be taken against those who spread such false rumors,” he added.

Indresh Maikhuri demanded that the state government should ensure an effective mechanism of conducting all competitive examinations in an independent, fair and transparent manner.