Amid NEET row, BJP’s UP test: MLA of ally party caught on video boasting ‘can fix jobs’

AS THE BJP faces Opposition protests inside and outside Parliament over irregularities in government recruitment exams, the party finds itself in a spot in Uttar Pradesh. Videos have emerged of an MLA belonging to its ally, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), boasting of his ability to “facilitate recruitment” to government posts in exchange for money.

A Jaunpur native, Bedi Ram is a first-time MLA, having won from the Jakhania Assembly seat in Ghazipur in the 2022 polls. In his poll affidavit, the former railway ticket collector and TTE (travelling ticket examiner) declared nine cases against him, seven of them related to paper leaks, one going back to 2006. He has been arrested at least twice over the charges.

Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur, Omvir Singh, said an inquiry has been ordered to verify the veracity of the videos circulating on social media, including when they were filmed and where.

In the video clips, Bedi Ram, purportedly, is heard saying that he arranges “40 recruitments at a time”. In one video, the 63-year-old MLA appears to be solving a money dispute between two groups after the cancellation of an exam. He can purportedly be heard saying that he takes money to help a candidate clear an exam, and that he bears no responsibility if a paper is cancelled. His involvement ends once the results are out and the work done, Bedi Ram apparently says.

On Thursday, a video emerged on social media purportedly of Rajbhar praising Bedi Ram’s “talent” in ensuring recruitment. “Kisi vibhag mein naukri chahiye… kisi bhi vibhag mein, apkey bhai ko, parivar mein, bachey ko, bachchi ko, naukri chahiye, toh form bharney ke baad, call letter aa jaye… nishchit hai. Jugaad toh banaa hi denge. Dekhne mein aise lag rahe