Punjab BJP demands resignation of Health, Education ministers over paper leak row

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, July 27, launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government over the alleged paper leak in the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination, demanding the immediate resignation of Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

Addressing a press conference, BJP Punjab State General Secretary Anil Sarin accused the AAP administration of deceiving the public with false claims of transparency, alleging a “systematic failure” in conducting competitive examinations.

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Referencing the July 19 Punjab Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Examination—where nearly 7,000 candidates competed for 454 posts—Sarin alleged that the question paper was scanned inside an examination hall, transmitted outside, solved, and the answers relayed back to select candidates via Bluetooth devices.

“The Registrar himself acknowledged having prior intelligence regarding the potential misuse of electronic devices. Despite this, the government failed to deploy adequate jammers or take preventive measures, raising serious questions about its intent and competence,” Sarin said.

The BJP leader claimed this was the sixth major recruitment controversy under the current state administration, pointing to past irregularities in the Naib Tehsildar examination, PSEB Class 12 English paper leak, PSTET controversy, and Subordinate Services Selection Board recruitments.

Targeting AAP’s stance on accountability, Sarin invoked past statements by top party leadership demanding resignations over exam irregularities in other states, insisting that the same yardstick must apply in Punjab.

“Punjab’s youth deserve a fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment system, not one repeatedly compromised by cheating and paper leaks,” he added, holding both ministers morally accountable for the continuous lapses.