Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra announced on Sunday that the party has expanded its nationwide campaign against examination paper leaks to all 20 districts of the Union territory. He alleged that the central government has failed to safeguard the future of students.
Campaign Expansion Details
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the campaign in Bishnah, on the outskirts of Jammu, Karra said the Congress high command had launched 28 pilot campaigns across the country last month. Srinagar was among the selected locations where the campaign was initiated on July 2. "The programme is now being conducted across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir," Karra stated.
Allegations Against the Government
Targeting the BJP-led Centre, Karra argued that a government which "could not protect donations made by devotees at temples" cannot be expected to be serious about issues such as education and repeated examination paper leaks. "If theft can take place in temples, then how can the theft of examination papers be considered surprising?" he questioned.
Karra also questioned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's continuation in office, noting that the party had repeatedly asked why he had not resigned despite the death of 21 students. "Now we understand why his conscience was unmoved. If they cannot safeguard temples, how can they be expected to safeguard education and the future of children?" Karra lashed out.
Participation and Impact
The campaign involved both rural and urban units of Jammu district Congress, with large participation from the party's senior leadership. Karra highlighted that the largest number of participants at the event were students, describing this as encouraging because the issue of paper leaks directly concerns their future.
Karra said, "Rahul Gandhi has provided us with an excellent platform. Through this platform, we want to visit every district, create awareness among students and motivate them to join this movement." He asserted that the issue of paper leaks extends beyond examinations and has wider social implications.
Broader Societal Concerns
"This is not merely about paper leaks or whether someone qualifies or is disqualified in an examination. It has a broader societal dimension. There is a social aspect, a psychological aspect and a mental health aspect that perhaps our Prime Minister or Union Education Minister fail to understand," Karra said.
Karra alleged the government was disconnected from the concerns of ordinary families, claiming that many leaders' children study abroad and are therefore unaffected by paper leaks. "Their own children are studying in foreign countries, so these paper leaks have no impact on them or on their families. This is the reality that the country is facing today," he concluded.
