New Delhi: A fresh political controversy has erupted over a major administrative appointment made by the Central Government. The government has appointed senior IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Education Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, triggering sharp reactions from opposition parties.
Soon after the announcement of the appointment, opposition leaders, including the Congress and other political parties, launched a strong attack on the government and raised questions over the decision and its timing.
Opposition parties alleged that the government has appointed an officer as Education Secretary whose past administrative functioning, according to them, has already been under scrutiny. They claimed that at a time when the education sector is facing serious concerns related to examinations, irregularities, and student protests, the government should have chosen an officer with a strong record of accountability and credibility.
The opposition further alleged that the government has replaced former Education Secretary Vineet Joshi with an officer whose appointment itself has raised questions, accusing the Centre of attempting to avoid accountability over ongoing issues in the education system.
Meanwhile, the issue also echoed in Parliament, where opposition MPs staged a protest outside the Parliament complex against the government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and several other opposition leaders participated in the demonstration, holding banners and raising slogans while demanding accountability from the government.
The appointment comes at a time when student movements and protests over examination-related issues continue across the country. While the government’s decision was expected to bring administrative stability and strengthen the functioning of the Education Ministry, the political controversy surrounding the appointment has added further challenges for the newly appointed Education Secretary and the ministry.