Rahul Gandhi reached Dehradun for the ‘Students’ Echo’ program. Describing Uttarakhand as the center of paper leak, he targeted the state government and said that here government posts are not given on the basis of merit but at fixed rates.
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [भारत] July 17 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi reached Jolly Grant Airport on Friday evening to participate in the ‘Students’ Echo’ program at Bannu School Ground in Dehradun.
The Congress leader was warmly welcomed by party workers at the airport before he left for the venue in Dehradun.
The opposition leader will interact with youth in the state capital as part of the nationwide campaign ‘Chhatraon ki Goonj’ (Students’ Echo). The nationwide campaign aims to focus on the problems faced by students, including exam irregularities and the broader state of India’s education system.
Uttarakhand described as ‘the center of paper leak’
In a post on Twitter, Gandhi alleged that Uttarakhand, known as ‘Devbhoomi’, has become a “hub of paper leaks” and questioned the state government’s handling of the issue. He wrote, “I am coming to Dehradun on 17th July. But why only Uttarakhand? Because ‘Devbhoomi’ has been made the center of paper leak.”
Hitting out at the state government over alleged irregularities in the UKSSSC examinations held in 2025, Gandhi claimed that a “system” has been created where government posts are being acquired through means other than merit. He said, “A ‘system’ has taken root here with regard to UKSSSC examinations, where posts like Patwari or Lekhpal are secured not on the basis of merit, but at rates fixed by criminals.”
Issue of cancellation of UKSSSC exam raised
In October 2025, after a major paper leak controversy, Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) had canceled the graduate-level recruitment exam (which included 416 vacancies for Patwari, Lekhpal and seven other posts). The written examination held on September 21, 2025 in all the districts of the state was declared completely “void” after thorough scrutiny.
Earlier, a one-member inquiry commission constituted by the Uttarakhand government to probe alleged irregularities in the competitive examination conducted by UKSSSC on September 21, 2025, had submitted its interim report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The commission is headed by Justice (retd) UC Dhyani.
Gandhi further alleged that despite making strict anti-copying laws, incidents of paper leaks continued. “The government enacted a strict anti-cheating law – yet leaks continued. The law remained only on paper, while exam papers continued to be sold in the market,” he said.
‘Students’ Echo’ campaign
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi had launched the campaign from Kota in Rajasthan through a rally named “Students’ Echo Maha Rally” and has now visited Uttarakhand to expand the campaign. (ANI)
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