PSI Exam Scam: Home minister has no moral right to continue, says Karnataka Congress

BENGALURU: A day after the state government annulled the results of the scam-tainted police sub-inspector examination, the Congress on Saturday demanded the resignation of home minister Araga Jnanendra.
"The home minister has acknowledged the scam in the exam and cancelled the process. On what moral grounds can he continue as home minister? He should immediately resign for an impartial investigation to continue," opposition leader in the legislative assembly Siddaramaiah said on Saturday in a series of tweets.
While demanding that the probe be monitored by a high court judge, he said: "Our police department cannot run under a fake and inefficient chowkidar. If the PSI exam is re-conducted under the inefficient home minister, it will not be a surprise if the new incoming PSIs are also inefficient and corrupt."
Seeking chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's clarification on the re-exam move, he asked: "Is the decision an attempt to ensure justice to honest candidates or to save the big brains behind the scam?"
MLA Priyank Kharge had alleged irregularities in the recruitment of over 545 candidates and said the home minister, along with government and officials, was involved.
CM defends re-exam call
The CM said conducting re-examination is a common practice being followed for years. "When we were in school and college, exams were conducted afresh whenever question papers were leaked or allegations of malpractices cropped up. There are instances where PSI exams are conducted again. So this is standard practice," he said.
The CM said the government has not withdrawn the entire notification for PSI recruitment. "We are only conducting re-exam," he said. When asked about opposition by candidates selected in the provisional list, he said: "My sympathies are with them."