LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, alleging that the paper leak mafia was their legacy and asserting that those involved in paper leak syndicates would be dealt with strictly.
"Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the Central Government is bringing such a stringent law against the paper leak mafia that it will provide for a minimum punishment of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore for those found guilty," the Chief Minister said while addressing a public gathering in Fatehpur district were he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 125 development projects worth more than Rs 489 crore.
Yogi alleged that the Samajwadi Party and the Congress had exploited the youth and were now "shedding crocodile tears."
“We are grateful to the Prime Minister, who has taken major decisions over the past three days keeping students' futures in mind. These paper leak mafias will be reduced to dust,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister said the NEET re-examination was conducted within the stipulated time so that students did not lose an academic year and that the results were also declared on time.
“Some members of the syndicate leaked the question paper. They were arrested, and several officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) were dismissed. Some people were arrested, their properties would be confiscated, and they will be punished. These are tough steps taken by PM Modi, keeping the future of students in mind. I wholeheartedly welcome, congratulate and thank him for the steps taken by the Centre."
Yogi futher said that the Prime Minister had approved the draft of a new law to bring stricter legislation against paper leak offences.
"I want to assure the youth of Uttar Pradesh that those who played with the future of students have only two destinations either the jail or the hell. Even the properties earned by the ancestors of the mafia will be confiscated. We have firmly cracked down on the mafia. Had we not done so, we would not have been able to provide government jobs to more than 9 lakh young people," maintained Yogi.
The Chief Minister also alleged that development was never on the Samajwadi Party's agenda and claimed its leaders had benefited from contracts, leases and illegal land encroachments.
Substantiating his claim, Yogi said that the BJP had purchased land in Lucknow for an office in 1990. “When party workers collected donations and the construction of the office building commenced, it was discovered that even that land was encroached upon by a former SP MLA. Yesterday, we sent a bulldozer and removed that encroachment. That was their business. Someone else cultivated the fields, but they would arrive to harvest the crop,” alleged the Chief Minister.