Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday, 14 September launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, alleging that the party's stated concern for students was a 'charade' that would unravel once the facts were scrutinised. Trivedi anchored his criticism in recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) action in Uttarakhand and alleged recruitment irregularities linked to Congress-affiliated governments.

The Uttarakhand Recruitment Scam

At the centre of Trivedi's broadside is the 2016 Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) examination for the post of Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (VPDO). The ED conducted searches on 10 September targeting premises connected to alleged money laundering in this case. According to the agency, OMR answer sheets were allegedly diverted from secure custody, with roll numbers of under-filled sheets passed to a private computer agency for fraudulent alteration of answers — in exchange for illegal gratification channelled through middlemen.

'A serious matter has surfaced: OMR sheets were removed from secure custody to facilitate a recruitment scam for the post of Gram Panchayat Development Officer. This is quite evident,' Trivedi said.

Assets Recovered from Former OSD's Residence

The ED searches extended to the residence of Chandan Singh Jeena — former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to erstwhile Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and currently his Personal Assistant. From those premises, investigators reportedly recovered ₹32 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold weighing approximately 200.5 grams, and 12 luxury watches. Bank accounts holding more than ₹52 lakh were frozen, with total assets valued at around ₹1.28 crore, according to the agency.

Harish Rawat's Response and Resignation

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has since resigned from his posts in the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, following the ED action. Rawat described Jeena as a hardworking individual and expressed disbelief at the allegations, stating he would feel ashamed if evidence of wrongdoing were established. He has not been named as an accused in the ED's public statements.

Jharkhand Link and Pattern of Allegations

Trivedi also pointed to alleged irregularities in a recruitment examination conducted under the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition government in Jharkhand, which he said had recently come to light. He further recalled what he described as recruitment irregularities at Ayurveda University during the previous Congress government in Uttarakhand. 'It appears that whenever the Congress is involved, government appointments become a vehicle for corruption,' he remarked. Critics of the BJP's framing argue that citing state-level irregularities to discredit a national opposition leader's student advocacy conflates distinct issues.

Broader Context

Trivedi's remarks come amid a sustained national debate over the integrity of competitive examinations and public recruitment processes — a politically charged issue after controversies around central entrance tests earlier this year. This is not the first time the BJP has sought to highlight Congress-era recruitment cases to counter the opposition's positioning on youth and student rights. The ED investigation into the 2016 VPDO case is ongoing.