Maharashtra criticised as paper-leak hub, says Shiv Sena (UBT)
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Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Monday accused the Maharashtra government of allowing a flourishing "paper leak" industry after the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper was leaked in Bhiwandi, charging that the state's education system has been compromised and that culprits go unpunished.
In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the SS(UBT) said Maharashtra has become the country's central hotspot for exam fraud, noting that the origins of last month's NEET leak were also traced to the state. The editorial described the latest TET leak as further evidence of a deteriorating education apparatus and alleged organised involvement of brokers and corrupt officials.
"States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were once notorious for mass cheating and government-sponsored copying. Maharashtra has gone a step further. This new trade of government-sponsored 'paper leaks' is running in full swing," the editorial said, adding that such incidents represent a "betrayal of the younger generation's future" and damagingly tarnish the state's reputation for education and social reform.
The party also criticised Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying he has failed to prevent repeated leaks and accusing the government of prioritising political security over exam integrity. The editorial claimed that large parts of the police force are deployed to protect defecting legislators while students remain vulnerable, and urged that the state's Education Minister should not retain the post.
The SS(UBT) further alleged links between organised leak networks and the ruling political ecosystem, saying the NEET and TET leaks point to the same "political ecosystem" and questioning the effectiveness of ongoing investigations. It named several districts — Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur and Nashik — as areas connected with the NEET case and said Bhiwandi is central to the TET incident.
"Can Home Minister Fadnavis answer why cases of paper leaks are repeatedly concentrated in Maharashtra? " the editorial asked, calling the pattern a systemic crisis that destroys opportunities for youth.
The state government has not issued an immediate response to the editorial's allegations. Investigations into the TET paper leak are ongoing.
(Inputs from IANS)