• By Kamal Kumar
  • Sat, 20 Jul 2024 04:32 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Hours after UPSC chairman Manoj Soni tenders his resignation, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of systematically damaging the 'sanctity, character, autonomy, and professionalism of all Constitutional bodies after it rose to power in 2014. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh swiped at Prime Minister Modi, levelling him as the reason behind Manoj Soni's elevation to the commission's top post.

The Congress leader also pointed fingers towards the National Testing Agency (NTA), which came under heavy public scrutiny after back-to-back irregularities in various central-level examinations including NEET (UG), UGC-NET and CUET-UG.

"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," Ramesh said in an 'X' post.

ALSO READ: Manoj Soni Steps Down As UPSC Chairman Five Years Before Term Ends, Cites ‘Personal Reasons’

Jairam Ramesh also questioned the untimely resignation of Soni, who still had 5 years to go as the UPSC chairperson.

"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," Ramesh added.

While linking Soni's resignation with the current UPSC fake certificate storm, he alleged that many such people have been given prominent positions within the constitutional bodies and government institutions.

ALSO READ: 'Whatever...': Trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar Reacts To UPSC's Police Case Against Her

"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," Ramesh said while asking "Why is the Chairman of the NTA untouched so far, for example?"

Earlier today, Manoj Soni hung up his boots on the top post of the IAS recruitment commission, citing "personal reasons". Before this, Dr Soni served as a member of UPSC from 28 June 2017 to 15 May 2023.