Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has firmly rejected the opposition’s demands for the resignation of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Balbir Singh. This comes in light of allegations regarding examination irregularities, following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to a paper leak controversy associated with the NEET examinations. The opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal, are seeking accountability from the Punjab government.

In responding to the claims, CM Mann asserted that there have been no recorded paper leaks under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. He differentiated between instances of actual paper leaks and organised cheating. Mann highlighted a recent event where mass cheating occurred at two examination centres in Faridkot for a pharmacy test, where candidates were allegedly using Bluetooth devices to facilitate cheating.

Details of Recent Cheating Incident

According to Mann, the authorities acted swiftly to address the malpractice, detaining 21 individuals and filing a First Information Report (FIR) within minutes of the examination commencing. He alleged that the cheating was orchestrated by an organised gang that charged candidates between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh to facilitate their dishonest practices. He asserted that such malpractice is not tolerated in Punjab, maintaining that only merit will lead to employment.

The Chief Minister’s statements came after various opposition parties posited that the recent resignation of Pradhan had ramifications for ministerial accountability, which should also extend to Punjab. They highlighted that numerous recruitment processes and board examinations in the state have suffered from allegations of irregularities over the years.

Opposition Criticism of AAP Government

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has accused the AAP administration of presiding over numerous examination-related incidents, including leaks during recruitment tests and the Class 12 English board examination. He referenced prior declarations by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who suggested that ministers should resign if examination papers were compromised. Warring argued that the same accountability should now be expected of Punjab’s ministers.

Moreover, the BJP intensified its critique of the Punjab government, questioning why AAP leaders who were once vocal about the NEET controversy have remained silent regarding the allegations of paper leaks in Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal echoed these concerns, with MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accusing the state government of failing to protect the integrity of the education system.

Despite the mounting criticism, the AAP government insists that isolated cases of malpractice are addressed promptly, and measures are taken against those responsible. The party has dismissed comparisons with examination leak issues occurring in other regions of the country. This political dispute unfolds as Punjab prepares for the upcoming Assembly elections, with the situation anticipated to become a significant point of contention leading up to the polls.

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