The simmering anger of Uttarakhand’s youth over the UKSSSC exam paper leak boiled for eight straight days on the streets of Dehradun — until Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami walked into the protest ground himself on Monday, bringing an emotional end to the agitation.
Facing thousands of restless aspirants at Parade Ground, Dhami struck a personal chord. “It doesn’t feel good to see the youth struggling in such hot weather for their rights. I’ve been constantly worried about you,” he told them, assuring that their fight would not be in vain.
Rejecting the comfort of his office, Dhami chose the dust and heat of the protest site to send a powerful message: transparency will prevail. “I could have met you in my office, but I wanted to come directly to you and assure you that I am fully committed to making this process transparent and free from any doubts,” he declared.
The UKSSSC controversy erupted after claims that the exam paper held on September 21 had been leaked just 30 minutes after the test began. According to Bobby Panwar, president of Uttarakhand Swabhiman Morcha, the leak was traced to candidate Khalid Malik, who allegedly forwarded it to his sister Sabia. The scandal sparked fury among aspirants, many of whom saw their years of preparation crumble overnight.
In a decisive move, CM Dhami announced that the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), promising a probe with “no stone left unturned.” “We know the importance of government jobs in Uttarakhand. The government will never let your dreams break,” he assured, vowing justice.
In a further gesture of solidarity, the Chief Minister promised that all police cases filed against the young protesters would be withdrawn, declaring, “You are not just the future of Uttarakhand but also our responsibility. I will ensure a secure future for all of you.”
The breakthrough immediately shifted the mood. Tribhuvan Chauhan, representing the Swabhiman Morcha, announced that protests would be suspended until October 10 to allow the government time to act. “If our demands are not met by then, we will reconvene,” Chauhan warned, keeping pressure on the administration.
