Gehlot’s ‘bold’ step silences and dismantles oppn narrative

•  Examination to be held again, likely in July-August
•  Not 3 yrs, rather exam result to now stay valid for life time of candidate

Jaipur: Cornering the opposition and silencing the chaos it created over the REET examination, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot decided on taking a major step on Monday and announced the cancellation of Level-2 examination of Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers-2021 (REET) amid accusations of large scale irregularities.

He also announced to reconduct the exam for 62,000 posts instead of exisiting 32,000 posts. First, eligibility examination will be conducted and then a final examination will be held, the chief minister said.

Gehlot, who made the announcement post the cabinet meet on Monday, said that the state government will enact a law with strict measures to stop exam paper leak and ensure that exams are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

“We have decided to cancel REET L-2 exam and it will be conducted afresh. Paper leak did not occur in L-1 exam so only L-2 will be reconducted,” Gehlot told reporters.

The Chief Minister also tweeted, “In the cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence, it has been decided to cancel the REET Level-2 exam.

The level-1 process will continue as before. Now there will be recruitment for a total of 62,000 posts in both the levels.

Youth should be rest assured, the state government is fully standing by in their interest.” Gehlot said that under REET Level One and Level 2, a total to 62 thousand recruitments will be done.

15 thousand posts of level one will remain separate.

As before, the eligibility test will be conducted whose validity will be lifelong. Subject wise separate exams will be conducted.

After the eligibility test, there will be a recruitment test and the exam may be held by the month of August this year.

Notably, the report of the committee headed by Justice Vyas will come by March 15 after which the date of examination will be decided upon.

Gehlot also asserted that the government will bring a strict law in the assembly session. He said that Special Operations Group (SOG) is investigating the discrepancies in the REET exam.

The state government will ensure justice to the youth by punishing every guilty, he stressed. REET Level-2 exam is conducted for selection of teachers to teach students Class 6 to 8.

“We are not happy with the decision to cancel the exam as future of lakhs of youths is associated. ”The kind of atmosphere created is not good for the state.

We have taken this decision for the future of the children,” the chief minister said.

But, the state government had to take the decision to cancel the exam due to the protests of the BJP held to “ ma lign the state government”, he said.

The BJP was indulging in protests “gimmicks” on the directions of the central government, he further alleged.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP has become frustrated with the Congress rule of three years. “Now even the BJP high command is reprimanding the state unit.

The general public is happy with our decisions. Every decision, whether it was regarding corona or this one, has been wonderful. BJP is in the business of making non-issue into an issue.

The papers of recruitment examinations are being leaked all over the country. Need to see why papers are leaking? It should be stopped.

Paper leaking gang is active all over the country.” Gehlot said that the situation is worrying. “Post inflation, the employment situation remains explosive.

Train was set on fire in Bihar which happened after many years. This is not a good sign for the governments.

Youth is not getting job, investment is not coming. How will anyone get a job in private sector when investment does not come. We are trying to give job in government and private sector,” he said.

Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said that none of his family members passed in REET.

“If someone proves the charges against me, then neither me, nor anyone from my family will do politics for the rest of my life. 13 people in my family took the exam and not a single one passed.

Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena is claiming that Minister Subhash Garg’s PSO has passed in the REET exam. However, he has got 29 marks out of 150. Kirodi is lying.”

Interestingly, upon this Gehlot passed a remark and said, “Kirodi seems to know all the links. Shouldn’t then, it be investigated how the BJP leaders know everything? Are they connected with these gangs,” Gehlot questioned.