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Rahul Gandhi backs students protesting the Uttarakhand paper leak, accuses BJP of being “Paper Chor” and links unemployment to “vote chori”
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (IMAGE: PTI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, calling it “Paper Chor” amid the controversy over the leak of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) graduate-level examination paper 2025.
Extending his full support to the protesting students, Gandhi accused the ruling party of prioritising power over youth employment.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Today, BJP’s other name is – Paper Thief! The repeated paper leaks happening across the country have ruined the lives and dreams of millions of hardworking youth. The UKSSSC paper leak in Uttarakhand is its latest example.”
आज BJP का दूसरा नाम है – पेपर चोर!देशभर में बार-बार होने वाले पेपर लीक ने करोड़ों मेहनती युवाओं की ज़िंदगी और सपनों को तबाह कर दिया है।
उत्तराखंड का UKSSSC पेपर लीक इसका ताज़ा उदाहरण है। लाखों युवाओं ने दिन-रात मेहनत की, लेकिन BJP ने चोरी से उनकी पूरी मेहनत पर पानी फेर दिया।… pic.twitter.com/dr0yHX61hq
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 26, 2025
The senior Congress leader emphasised that lakhs of young people had prepared tirelessly for the exam, only to have their efforts dashed by this malpractice. “But the Modi government is turning a blind eye to this – because they are not concerned about youth unemployment…,” he added.
The examination paper leak, which came to light on September 21, has sparked widespread protests. Students, led by the Uttarakhand Berozgar Sangh, have set up tents outside Parade Ground in Dehradun, demanding justice and transparency.
Gandhi’s strong words come after he earlier coined the term “vote chori” during a rally in poll-bound Bihar. He linked unemployment and “vote chori” as two sides of the same coin, alleging that the BJP was more focused on remaining in power through dishonest means than creating jobs for young people.
“The youth are on the streets and chanting the slogan – ‘Paper Thief, Leave the Throne!’ This is not just a fight for the youth’s jobs; this is a fight for justice and democracy,” he stated.
CM Dhami Assures Protesting Students
Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami appealed to students to be wary of those exploiting their concerns for political gain. He assured that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to look into the paper leak and that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure transparency.
“We have made 25,000 appointments transparently without any corruption, we will do the same,” Dhami told reporters.
The Uttarakhand CM also called the incident unfortunate, stating that the government was being targeted while others were using the students’ protests to further their own interests.
The police have already arrested Khalid Malik, the main accused in the paper leak case, along with his sister. The investigation is currently ongoing.
(With inputs from agencies)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 26, 2025, 16:52 IST
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