“Had to be nudged out…” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questions timing of UPSC Chairman’s resignation

New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Criticizing the Narendra Modi-led government after UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni’s resignation amidst the controversy regarding trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday alleged that all constitutional bodies have been undermined since the BJP came to power in 2014.

“The sanctity, character, autonomy, and professionalism of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014. But at times even the self-anointed non-biological PM is forced to say enough is enough. Mr Modi brought in one of his favourite ‘academics’ from Gujarat as a UPSC member in 2017 and made him Chairman in 2023 with a six-year term. But this so-called distinguished gentleman has now resigned five years before the expiry of his term,” Jairam Ramesh wrote in a post on X.

He further questioned the timing of his resignation amid the UPSC controversy involving candidates accused of submitting fraudulent certificates to secure employment, suggesting that he might have been pushed to resign due to the scandal that has caught the public attention.

“Whatever the reasons that may be given, it appears clear that he had to be nudged out given the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved. Many more such characters have populated the system. Why is the Chairman of the NTA untouched so far, for example?” he added.

UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni has put down his papers, citing “personal reasons” nearly five years before the end of his tenure.

Sources at the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) told ANI that his resignation has not yet been accepted. Soni’s term was originally set to conclude in 2029.

“UPSC chairman Manoj Soni has put in his papers due to personal reasons. His resignation has not been accepted yet. It is a long procedure,” sources at DOPT told ANI over the phone.

The UPSC has been facing serious questions following allegations against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly forged identity papers to gain entry into the civil service.

In the controversy involving Pune IAS Puja Khedkar, it has been revealed that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s names, her photograph or signature, her email ID, mobile number, and address, the UPSC said in a press release.