CBSE Paper Leak
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The opposition on Friday stepped up its attack on the government over the CBSE paper leaks, with the Congress accusing the government of sheltering the "exam mafia" that it claimed has taken over the examination system of the country.
The Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue and asked why he has not apologised for the paper leaks.
Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Modi would now write a sequel to his book "Exam Warriors" to teach students and parents stress relief, once their lives are "destroyed due to leaked exam papers".
The CPI-M also expressed concern over the paper leak and alleged the entire institutional mechanism dealing with education was under threat in the country.
The Congress has already demanded the sacking of HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, who today turned to students for finding a solution to the "challenge" of tackling paper leaks.
The Congress took a jibe at the NDA dispensation, saying how a government which cannot keep even a question paper safe, can ensure the safety of the nation.
Mocking the prime minister on Twitter, Rahul Gandhi attached a photograph of of Modi playing with children.
"PM wrote Exam Warriors, a book to teach students stress relief during exams.
"Next up: Exam Warriors 2, a book to teach students and parents stress relief, once their lives are destroyed due to leaked exam papers," he tweeted.
The prime minister had also talked about fighting exam stress in his "Mann ki Baat" programme ahead of the board exams.
Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said it is the first time in the country's history that a question paper has been leaked in this manner and asked if the prime minister was "not concerned" about lakhs of students being forced to take the exams again.
"The mafia has controlled the examination system in India - be it Vyapam, SSC or the CBSE," he said, alleging that the government is "sheltering" the mafia and is working in "collusion" with it.
"When the government cannot keep the question papers safe, how will it secure the country...The manner in which the question paper has been leaked, no one has taken responsibility for it. This is a very serious issue," he said.
"20 lakh kids have to take the exam again. Is the prime minister not concerned? No one feeling sorry. The children have taken to the streets and no one is saying even sorry. Is he arrogant that he is not feeling sorry?" he said.
Under whose pressure, Sibal asked, the government changed the pattern for setting examination papers under which different question papers were set for different parts of the country.
"Why did the government change the pattern of setting question papers. Under whose instructions was the old practice changed?" he asked. "The exam mafia has taken over the country's examination system."
Sibal accused the Modi government of making education a business and said it has become unaffordable for the poor.
Dubbing the Modi government a 'weak' government on various fronts, Sibal alleged all kinds of leaks, be it data leak, Aadhaar data leak or paper leaks, are taking place under this dispensation.
"We want to ask the prime minister, which way is the country headed? Everyday institutions are attacked and leaks are happening," he said.
"When the entire country is thrust into darkness, the 'chowkidar' sleeps," he alleged.
Yesterday, Gandhi targeted Modi over a series of leaks, including the CBSE paper leaks, saying the "chowkidar" was weak.
The Congress attacked the prime minister over the CBSE announcing a retest of class 12 economics papers after reports that question for the subject paper leaked.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia shot off a letter to Javadekar, asking him to convene a meeting of all states' education ministers to discuss ways to stop recurrence of such incidents.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray too attacked the government and asked students and parents to boycott re-examinations for CBSE exam papers that got leaked.
