Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday rejected the opposition’s allegations of repeated examination paper leaks in the state, asserting that not a single paper leak had taken place during his government’s four-and-a-half years in office.
His remarks came hours after BJP MPs staged a protest outside Parliament demanding the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains over the alleged paper leak issue.
Accusing the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of trying to defame Punjab and its youth for political gain, Mann said his government had provided 68,855 government jobs purely on merit without recommendations, bribery or paper leaks.
“The BJP should stop maligning Punjabis for political benefits,” the Chief Minister said.
Responding to allegations of paper leaks, Mann said the opposition’s claims were false and maintained that no examination paper had been leaked since his government assumed office.
Referring to a recent incident during a pharmacy examination, he clarified that it was an attempt at cheating rather than a paper leak. Mann said a candidate allegedly used a Bluetooth-enabled pen to scan the question paper and receive answers through an earpiece.
According to the Chief Minister, Punjab Police acted within minutes, arrested 10 candidates along with 11 members of an external racket, and sent them to jail.
He further said the pharmacy examination was conducted under the Health Department, not the Education Department, adding that the Health Minister had already clarified that the examination was completed successfully and that no paper leak had occurred.
Commenting on the opposition’s demand for Harjot Singh Bains’ resignation, Mann reiterated that the matter did not fall under the Education Department’s jurisdiction.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, the Chief Minister claimed the Shiromani Akali Dal had lost its political base in Punjab and suggested that the BJP should focus on developments at Jantar Mantar before criticising his government.
Mann said recruitment in Punjab was now based solely on merit under a “no cash, no recommendation” policy, adding that corruption and cheating in government recruitment had become a thing of the past under his administration.
