Nagpur: Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday accused BJP-led Mahayuti govt of jeopardising the future of the state’s youth through repeated examination paper leaks and rising unemployment caused by the closure of thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).In a statement, Sapkal alleged that after controversies surrounding NEET and TET examinations, the question paper for Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) drug inspector recruitment examination was circulated on WhatsApp before the test.“The BJP govt cannot conduct even a single examination properly. Paper leaks have bulldozed the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of students and their parents,” he alleged.Sapkal claimed the govt had failed to act despite allegations of paper leaks, irregularities in results, manipulation of marks and complaints supported by evidence.“Instead of taking action against those playing with the future of students, they are being protected,” he alleged.Questioning the administration, Sapkal asked, “Under whose patronage is the paper leak racket operating? Which minister in the govt is backing these activities?”“If you continue to destroy the future of students, the same youth will bring you down from power,” he said.Referring to the alleged Rs 160-crore Shalarth scam, Sapkal claimed the arrest of BJP leader Sanjay Garud exposed “who the real scamsters are”. He alleged fake Shalarth orders were used to fraudulently register 841 teachers and staff members, causing substantial losses to the state exchequer.Shifting focus to the economy, Sapkal challenged the govt’s claims of industrial growth, citing official figures to allege that 28,764 MSMEs shut down in Maharashtra between 2023 and 2026.He claimed Maharashtra recorded the highest number of MSME closures in the country and attributed the decline to rising production costs, limited access to finance, market competition, administrative corruption and law-and-order issues.“Even if young people overcome the problems in the education system, there is no guarantee they will get jobs because industries themselves are shutting down,” he alleged.Sapkal said the twin challenges of recurring examination controversies and shrinking employment opportunities had created deep uncertainty among the state’s youth and blamed the BJP-led govt’s policies for the situation.In a statement, Sapkal alleged that after controversies surrounding NEET and TET examinations, the question paper for Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) drug inspector recruitment examination was circulated on WhatsApp before the test.“The BJP govt cannot conduct even a single examination properly. Paper leaks have bulldozed the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of students and their parents,” he alleged.Sapkal claimed the govt had failed to act despite allegations of paper leaks, irregularities in results, manipulation of marks and complaints supported by evidence.“Instead of taking action against those playing with the future of students, they are being protected,” he alleged.Questioning the administration, Sapkal asked, “Under whose patronage is the paper leak racket operating? Which minister in the govt is backing these activities?”“If you continue to destroy the future of students, the same youth will bring you down from power,” he said.Referring to the alleged Rs 160-crore Shalarth scam, Sapkal claimed the arrest of BJP leader Sanjay Garud exposed “who the real scamsters are”. He alleged fake Shalarth orders were used to fraudulently register 841 teachers and staff members, causing substantial losses to the state exchequer.Shifting focus to the economy, Sapkal challenged the govt’s claims of industrial growth, citing official figures to allege that 28,764 MSMEs shut down in Maharashtra between 2023 and 2026.He claimed Maharashtra recorded the highest number of MSME closures in the country and attributed the decline to rising production costs, limited access to finance, market competition, administrative corruption and law-and-order issues.“Even if young people overcome the problems in the education system, there is no guarantee they will get jobs because industries themselves are shutting down,” he alleged.Sapkal said the twin challenges of recurring examination controversies and shrinking employment opportunities had created deep uncertainty among the state’s youth and blamed the BJP-led govt’s policies for the situation.
