New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday extended his support to students protesting in Maharashtra, accusing BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state of failing to address issues such as paper leaks, delayed recruitment, rising education costs and poor student facilities.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the protests were not limited to a single examination or recruitment process but reflected a broader loss of trust in the system.

Rahul Gandhi Says Students’ Trust Has Been Shattered

Rahul Gandhi said thousands of students in Maharashtra are protesting peacefully because their concerns go beyond one particular examination or recruitment drive.

“In Maharashtra, thousands of students are on the streets, protesting peacefully – the reason isn’t just one exam or recruitment, but a trust that’s been shattered by the entire system,” Gandhi wrote on X.

He alleged that students are facing problems including paper leaks, delayed recruitment, high education costs, poor hostel conditions and food-related concerns.

Allegations Over DBT Schemes and MPSC

The Congress leader also raised allegations of fraud in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes and accused BJP-led governments of failing to protect students’ interests.

Gandhi further alleged that the government had taken control of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC)and damaged its credibility.

He said students’ demands for a better future were justified and urged the government to listen to their concerns and take immediate action.

MPSC FDA Inspector Exam Paper Leak Under Investigation

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come amid a Mumbai Police investigation into the alleged leak of the question paper for the MPSC Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Inspector examination.

The Drug Inspector screening examination was conducted offline on March 22 at six divisional headquarters across Maharashtra. The results were declared on June 12.

After the interview process was completed, the Commission released a provisional general merit list containing 488 candidates, including 485 eligible and three ineligible candidates.

Complaints Alleged Questions Were Available Before Exam

Between July 22 and July 26, the Commission received complaints via email from candidates and public representatives alleging malpractice in the March 22 examination.

According to the complaints, some candidates had allegedly received the question paper or certain questions before the examination, reportedly on March 20. The material was subsequently alleged to have been circulated through social media and electronic media.

Several Arrests Made in the Case

The investigation has resulted in several arrests.

On Tuesday, accused Rutuja Patil was taken into custody from Nandurbar by the Crime Branch’s Property Cell.

Earlier, on August 26, the Crime Branch arrested six people in connection with the alleged breach of confidentiality surrounding the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group-B) examination.

The case has been registered under the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Malpractices) Act, 2024, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Political Debate Intensifies Over Student Issues

The alleged MPSC paper leak has added to the wider debate over recruitment examinations and student concerns in Maharashtra. Rahul Gandhi’s intervention has also brought the issue into the political spotlight.

The investigation into the alleged paper leak is ongoing, while students continue to demand greater transparency, timely recruitment and stronger safeguards in competitive examinations.