New Delhi, September 05 (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination and the alleged lack of adequate representation of women in Congress-ruled states. The party alleged that the developments in Jharkhand had exposed the Congress’ alleged indifference towards the interests and concerns of students.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed that the investigation into the JPSC examination had revealed that question papers were allegedly taken out after the strong room was breached and subsequently tampered with during the examinations for the posts of Assistant Conservator of Forests and Forest Range Officer.

According to the BJP, the episode should not merely be described as a paper leak but as a case of “paper loot”. Trivedi alleged that the Congress’ silence over the matter was deeply distressing for candidates in Jharkhand and reflected what he described as the party’s insensitivity towards students.

Trivedi also raised the issue of women’s representation in the Cabinets of Congress-ruled states. He said that despite the Congress being in power in four states, there were only three women ministers across their Cabinets.

He claimed that Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka had no women ministers, while Kerala had two. In Telangana, he said, there had previously been two women ministers, but one had since been removed from the Cabinet.

The BJP leader alleged that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had remained silent on the issue of women’s political representation. He said the alleged gap between the Congress’ stated position and its actual conduct was clearly visible.

Trivedi said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union government had given representation to the highest number of women ministers in the country’s history. He asserted that the BJP’s position on women’s empowerment was reflected in its actions as well as its statements.

He appealed to women to assess the Congress’ claims against its actual record and conduct on the issue of women’s political representation.

The BJP’s remarks came amid continuing controversy over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the JPSC and other state recruitment bodies. Investigations into the matter have reportedly brought several alleged irregularities and suspected manipulation of examination processes under scrutiny.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar