Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday lashed out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader called out the ruling Mahayuti over the state Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak.

Taking to X, LoP Gandhi wrote: “Maharashtra TET paper leaked, exam cancelled. 6 lakh candidates left in limbo. Two weeks have passed, no trace of a new date. The leakers roam free, the system remains spotless, and the one paying the price is the one who toiled with honesty.”

Mentioning that the exam candidates are the “country’s working and future teachers, the ones who hold India’s future in their hands”, he said: “These are the very people who prepared year after year, filled out forms, paid fees, travelled to far-flung centres. And now they’re just waiting, without a date, without answers.”

Addressing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gandhi demanded three things. He sought the announcement of the new TET date “right now”. Demanding accountability, he asked for action against those responsible for the leak and “not against the candidates”.

Also, he said: “Those whose year was ruined by this leak should get age limit relaxations in order to protect their future.”

He added: “The mistake is the institution’s, the punishment the candidate’s – this is not justice.”

Further, Rahul Gandhi said that on July 17, he will discuss the “growing crisis of paper leaks” in Dehradun.

“The time has come for an education revolution – to build a system where the youth reap the rewards of their hard work, not the failures of the system,” he asserted.

Responding to the LoP’s remarks, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said that the government has proactively taken action in the case.

“I would like to inform Rahul Gandhi that this matter has been investigated and action has been taken. I also want to tell him that concrete steps are being taken to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future,” he told reporters.

Hitting back at the Congress leader, CM Fadnavis said: “The most significant point is whether Rahul Gandhi is seeking this information while present here in our country–India–or is demanding answers via social media while sitting somewhere abroad.”

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde also maintained that even before the TET paper leak took place, the police had apprehended the people involved.

“They (police) caught the entire chain and dismantled the whole nexus, sending them straight to jail. We have even recommended applying MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) against them. Anyone who trifles with the future of our country will absolutely not be spared,” he said.

Targeting the Opposition, Shinde said: “However, I would also like to remind Rahul Gandhi that during the tenure of their Maha Vikas Aghadi government, paper leaks occurred three times across CET, TET, and Health Department exams. That happened during their own rule, and he should be aware of that information as well.”

Moreover, he asserted that extremely strict action will be taken against the accused of the TET paper leak so that no one will dare to commit such a crime in the future.

–IANS

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