New Delhi: Education Secretary’s Transfer Sparks Controversy
The founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, criticized the recent transfer of the Education Secretary, claiming it equates to “rewarding corruption rather than promoting accountability.” He pointed out that the new appointee, an IAS officer with a background in the Animal Husbandry Department, is facing serious corruption charges that amount to millions.
“Just last night, the Education Secretary was transferred and replaced by an officer with major corruption allegations against him. This highlights systemic issues with corruption, especially in light of recent scandals involving exam paper leaks,” Dipke shared in a post on X.
He remarked that this move not only undermines efforts to hold officials responsible but is also an insult to young people across India. Dipke questioned if this is the type of compromise the government expects the youth to accept, asserting, “This isn’t accountability. Our protests will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”
This reshuffling at the Centre included 13 new secretary-level appointments across various ministries, amid ongoing protests regarding the alleged NEET paper leak. Senior IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar has stepped in as Secretary for the Department of Higher Education, taking over from Vineet Joshi, while T K Anil Kumar will lead the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Protests against the NEET paper leak erupted in multiple states on Friday, following CJP’s call for nationwide demonstrations. Many expressed outrage at the police response to protests on July 20, demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
In response to these growing protests, the Congress party has encouraged local units to hold candlelight vigils and sit-in protests across districts to address irregularities in the NEET and CBSE exams, as well as the government’s heavy-handed tactics.
Furthermore, a high-level meeting between CJP leaders and senior BJP officials, including Union Health Minister JP Nadda, took place at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. This occurred alongside the conclusion of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Nadda and Jitendra Singh, following a government commitment to address the NEET exam’s issues and reform the overall examination process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that stringent actions would be taken against those involved in the alleged paper leaks, with plans for the Union Cabinet to consider a draft proposal for fast-track courts and harsher penalties for offenders.
