Exam Bill Sparks UPA-BJP Clash in Rajya Sabha
Jitendra Singh blames Congress for inaction on exam reforms; Kharge targets Centre over protest crackdown
- Rajya Sabha witnesses heated debate on anti-paper leak amendment bill.
- Jitendra Singh accuses UPA of failing to establish a national testing body.
- Mallikarjun Kharge blames Centre for exam leak crisis and police action on protesters.
- BJP objects to Kharge’s remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th July: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill triggered a sharp political confrontation in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with the BJP and Congress trading charges over responsibility for examination paper leaks and the handling of student protests.
Moving the amendment bill in the Upper House, Union Minister Jitendra Singh accused the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of failing to establish a national testing body despite being aware of the need for reforms.
Singh said the present government had to complete an unfinished task left by the UPA and alleged that the previous government ignored recommendations aimed at preventing examination paper leaks during its second term.
Responding during the debate, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge blamed the current government for the examination paper leak crisis and questioned the police action against students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Kharge demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarify the police action and alleged that the government introduced the amendment bill primarily to defuse public anger following widespread protests by students and youth.
He further claimed that the government’s decision to amend the law was driven by political compulsions rather than a genuine commitment to addressing the concerns of students.
The BJP strongly objected to Kharge’s remarks regarding the Home Minister, describing them as inappropriate and alleging that they amounted to a “threat of violence.”
The amendment bill, which seeks to strengthen the legal framework against unfair means in public examinations, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by a voice vote after an extensive discussion and is now under consideration in the Rajya Sabha.
