Congress Accuses BJP-RSS of 'Institutional Takeover' Amid UPSC Scandal

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has accused BJP-RSS of undermining India's constitutional bodies, amid the resignation of UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni and allegations against trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar. He claimed the Modi government's desperation to control governance has led to repeated scandals, affecting aspirants' futures.

Following the resignation of UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni amid controversy surrounding trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP-RSS, accusing them of systematically taking over India's constitutional bodies. Kharge called the multiple scandals plaguing UPSC a 'national concern' and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his minister to address the issues transparently.

Kharge highlighted the impact of these controversies on genuine aspirants, including those from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories, who work tirelessly for Civil Services Examinations. He questioned the premature resignation of the UPSC Chairman and its secrecy, suggesting possible links to the ongoing scandals. Kharge emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to prevent fraudulent practices in UPSC admissions.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh echoed these sentiments, alleging that the autonomy and professionalism of constitutional bodies have been damaged since the BJP assumed power in 2014. Ramesh pointed out the suspicious timing of Soni's resignation amid the fraud allegations involving candidates using fake certificates. He suggested Soni might have been nudged to resign due to the controversy and called for scrutiny of other figures in the system.

(With inputs from agencies.)