No paper leaks will be tolerated: CJP’s Ranka takes aim at KPSC in Karnataka

“No paper leaks in this country, let alone Karnataka, will be tolerated anymore,” asserted Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-founder Ashutosh Ranka. After auditing government schools across Bengaluru under its ‘School Theek Karo’ campaign, CJP is now turning its focus to teacher shortages and irregularities in state recruitment exams. The Federal spoke to Ranka about the findings and the party’s plans for Karnataka.

What did you find after visiting these government schools in Bengaluru?

I think two big concerns that we have identified are that a lot of teachers have been on SI duties for the last three months, and that probably will go on for another couple of months, which is directly impacting the studies of the students.

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The second big issue we identified is hygiene, especially in public toilets. In almost all the schools we visited, the public toilets were in really bad condition. Based on the discussions we had with the teachers and the local administration, they informed us that there is no budget for cleaning staff.

The third big concern is the maintenance and repair work in certain schools. We have urged the government to take up repair work in these schools on priority.

You met Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa yesterday. What was discussed in that meeting?

It was a cordial discussion. We highlighted the issues we observed during our visits, and he also informed us about the KPS (Karnataka Public School) initiative. He took our feedback in a positive stride and assured us that the government will work on those issues.

You have received messages regarding the KPSC paper leak. What is your reaction to it?

No, absolutely, I think it is a huge problem. A lot of students reached out to me saying KPSC is a big problem. In the Veterinary Officer examination held recently, there was a paper leak, and the exam was cancelled, as far as I have understood. We are understanding the issue in more detail. We have met a lot of student delegations, and we stand in full solidarity with all the students who have been impacted by the scam.

Do you plan to launch a campaign or movement regarding the KPSC scam?

Definitely. We will stand behind all the students and work with all student groups to make sure that there are no paper leaks in the state.

No, we are not at all silent. We have been very vocal and clear about the KPSC scam. Of course, we have an ongoing campaign right now—the 'School Theek Karo' campaign—which takes up a bigger chunk of our time. But rest assured, we are very much in solidarity with all the students impacted by KPSC. Very soon, we will come up with a more structured plan around this issue.

What is your demand from the government regarding the KPSC scam?

There should be zero tolerance for any form of paper leaks in the country. As far as I understand, the Veterinary Officer paper leak is being investigated by the CBI.

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Will senior party leaders like Abhijit Dipke visit Bengaluru to address the KPSC scam?

He will definitely come. We will be visiting different parts of the state. We don't want to limit ourselves to Bengaluru. We want to go to cities and districts with large student populations to understand the issue in greater detail directly from the students. Whatever the students suggest and expect from us, we will definitely do it. No paper leaks in this country, let alone Karnataka, will be tolerated anymore. This is about the future of our students, and we will stand behind these students in anything and everything they do.