Education – Delhi BJP Protests, Seeks Punjab Minister’s Resignation Over Exam Leak Allegations
Education –The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a protest on Thursday outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters near Mandi House, demanding the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains over allegations linked to examination paper leaks. Party leaders said the issue has raised serious concerns about the credibility of the state’s examination process and the future of students.
BJP Stages Demonstration Outside AAP Office
The protest was led by Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, who, along with party workers and senior leaders, gathered outside the AAP office on Ferozshah Road. Demonstrators raised slogans and urged the Punjab government to take responsibility for the alleged irregularities. The BJP maintained that the education minister should step down while a thorough investigation into the matter is carried out.
Several BJP Members of Parliament, legislators and office-bearers joined the demonstration, making it one of the party’s prominent protests on an education-related issue in the national capital.
Allegations Over Multiple Examination Paper Leaks
According to BJP leaders, six examination papers were allegedly leaked during the AAP government’s four-and-a-half-year tenure in Punjab. The party argued that repeated incidents have undermined confidence in the state’s examination system and placed the academic future of nearly 30 lakh students at risk.
The BJP further claimed that such incidents have created uncertainty among students preparing for competitive and board examinations, calling for stricter accountability from the state government and education department.
Demand for Ministerial Accountability
During the protest, BJP leaders insisted that responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the examination process rests with the education department. They said the alleged incidents warranted immediate political accountability and urged the Punjab government to take corrective measures to restore public confidence.
The party also called for stronger safeguards to prevent future examination-related irregularities and ensure that students receive a fair and transparent evaluation process.
AAP Rejects Paper Leak Claims
The protest comes days after AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal publicly denied allegations that examination papers had been leaked during the party’s tenure in Punjab. Responding to criticism, he stated that no paper leak had occurred under the AAP government.
Kejriwal explained that in one examination conducted at two centres, a few students allegedly attempted to cheat by using digital pens. According to him, the malpractice was detected immediately by authorities, the students were caught on the spot, and the examination paper itself was not leaked.
Political Dispute Continues
The exchange has added to the political confrontation between the BJP and AAP over governance and education in Punjab. While the BJP continues to demand the resignation of the education minister and a detailed inquiry into the allegations, the AAP leadership maintains that the claims of paper leaks are incorrect and that prompt action was taken against attempts to cheat during examinations.
The issue is expected to remain a subject of political debate as both parties continue to present their respective positions on the functioning of Punjab’s education system and the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of public examinations.