Bengaluru: The second leak of the PU Chemistry question paper in barely 10 days rocked the Legislative Assembly on Thursday with the BJP demanding the resignation of Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Kimmane Rathnakar for the continuing mess in the PU department.
Raising the issue as soon as the House met for the day, BJP members wondered what the minister was doing while the question paper was leaked twice. Pointing out that students would now have to study for the examination for the third time, they said the re-exam would come in the way of their preparation for various entrance examinations for professional courses.
JD(S) member and Mahalakshmi layout MLA , Gopalaiah, whose son is also taking second PU examination, strongly backed the BJP demand. At first, Mr Rathnakar tried to pacify the agitating members saying the government would take action against those behind the question paper leak. But BJP members rushed to the well of the House, demanding his resignation. When little could be heard over the din that followed, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
But when it re-assembled an hour later, there was no let- up in the protests with BJP members continuing to insist on the minister’s resignation. Mr Rathnakar interevened to say that 40 officials had been suspended with immediate effect and the government had set up a three- member committee under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan director, Dr P C Jaffer and Transport Commissioner, Rame Gowda to monitor the re- examination. He assured that the CID would investigate the second leak of the question paper and action would be taken against those involved. But as the protests continued, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourned the House sine-die.
