After backlash, CM says, MPSC exam will be held by March 22

 

 

 

CHIEF Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday evening said that the Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) preliminary examination would be held by March 22. Earlier, the MPSC’s decision to postpone, yet again, the exam for Government jobs which was to take place on March 14 (Sunday) on account of rising coronavirus cases sparked protests with students blocking a road in Pune. “The preliminary examination will be held within eight days from March 14. The announcement of dates will be made tomorrow, this is my promise to you,” Thackeray said.

 

The decision to postpone exams had evoked angry reaction from leaders of ruling allies Congress and NCP too. Thackeray also said, no student will be barred on the ground of age as a result of postponement. “Precautionary measures such as sanitisation of exam centres, COVID-19 tests of paper distributors, supervisors and assessors are being taken. We are doing it in the interest of candidates’ safety,” the Chief Minister added. The Relief and Rehabilitation Department had announced the decision in a circular. Causing a huge scare in corona times, thousands of youths took to the streets across Maharashtra to protest the notification, leading to police carrying out a baton charge in some places to disperse them. Congress leader and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar had earlier in the day claimed that he was kept in the dark by officials.

 

“The decision has been taken at the Secretary level without even discussing the issue with me. I know nothing about it. There will be inquiry into this matter,” he tweeted. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan questioned the wisdom of the decision and said, “If the Government can permit weddings, hold Budget session and conduct exams for the Health Department, then it is wrong to cancel the MPSC examination.” It was injustice to the candidates, the former Chief Minister said, adding, “How much longer they should prepare for MPSC? If the Government can allow other events, it should not apply a different yardstick for MPSC.” BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had demanded that the decision be reversed. Rohit Pawar, NCP MLA and grandson of party chief Sharad Pawar, too tweeted that the examination can be conducted in a fair and safe manner.

 

An estimated 2,60,000 plus candidates, including several women, in the 21-30 age group, who have travelled from remote parts of the State, were hoping to appear for the preliminary exams, comprising two objective-type papers, at various centres in the State on Sunday. Conducted annually by the statutory body, the exams would open the door for successful in various government jobs across sectors based on merits and the applicable reservation criteria. Taken aback by the road blockades, sit-ins, slogan-shouting and other forms of agitation that erupted in Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Amravati, Solapur, Nanded, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, and other places, the local police and district administrations rushed to the spots to control the situation.

 

At some places, the agitating students vowed that they would not clear the roads till the exams were conducted as scheduled on Sunday. Mahesh Bade, one of the aspirants in Pune, demanded roll-back of the decision. “Is the Government waiting for students to commit suicide?” he asked. Another aspirant said,“If they wanted to postpone, they should have done it 15 days ago. Now students have gone back to their respective centres across the State and they learn that exam would not take place.”