Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday, 24 July directly challenged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's claim that no paper leak had taken place during the BJP government's nearly three years in office, alleging a pattern of suppressed complaints and partisan investigations into recruitment examination irregularities.

Key Allegations Raised by Gehlot

Gehlot cited multiple specific instances to build his case. He alleged that complaints related to the NEET-UG examination paper leak were initially suppressed by the state government and police, and only came to light after students approached the National Testing Agency (NTA) directly.

He further pointed to the reported recovery of the RAS examination paper in an unsealed envelope in Nawalgarh, Jhunjhunu; a lecturer recruitment examination paper allegedly arriving with a broken seal; alleged cheating during the LDC recruitment examination at Swami Vivekananda Model School in Jaisalmer; and an alleged OMR sheet manipulation case involving a technical head of the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB).

The Sub-Inspector Exam Controversy

Gehlot also alleged that while the BJP government eventually cancelled the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination, it had initially opposed its cancellation before the Rajasthan High Court. He added that candidates who took to the streets to protest over examination irregularities were subjected to police action — a charge the government has not yet addressed.

Congress Record vs BJP Tenure: The Comparison Drawn

Drawing a pointed contrast, Gehlot argued that the Congress government during its tenure had taken decisive action against the alleged paper leak mafia — recording more than 400 arrests, demolishing properties linked to accused individuals, removing senior officials, and enacting a stringent anti-paper leak law that provided for life imprisonment, fines of up to ₹10 crore, and property confiscation.

He also alleged that the BJP government between 2013 and 2018 had similarly failed to contain paper leaks, framing the current administration's denial as part of a longer pattern of inaction. Notably, this is not the first time the two sides have clashed over examination integrity in Rajasthan, a state where competitive recruitment exams affect hundreds of thousands of aspirants annually.

Government's Position and What Comes Next

The BJP government had not responded to Gehlot's allegations at the time of reporting. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has previously maintained that no paper leak has occurred under the present administration. Gehlot concluded by accusing the government of prioritising the suppression of facts over accountability to examination aspirants.

With Rajasthan's recruitment examination cycle affecting lakhs of young aspirants, the political dispute over paper leaks is likely to intensify as upcoming examinations approach.