Paper Leak Row: BJP Mounts Fresh Attack on Punjab Education Minister, Seeks Resignation

BJP Steps Up Attack on Punjab Education Minister, Seeks Resignation Over Paper Leak Controversy

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday escalated its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the alleged examination paper leak controversy in Punjab, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and accusing the ruling party of adopting different standards for accountability.

The BJP’s remarks come after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down following weeks of protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. The party questioned why a similar standard was not being applied in Punjab.

Amit Malviya Questions ‘Double Standards’

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said Harjot Bains should be held accountable if the principle of ministerial responsibility is to be applied uniformly. “One question that now deserves a clear answer: When is Punjab’s Education Minister going to resign?” Malviya posted on X.

He alleged that those who had demanded accountability in other examination-related controversies were now maintaining silence over the allegations in Punjab.

Taking a swipe at AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Malviya also suggested that if the party truly believed education reformer Sonam Wangchuk could transform India’s education system, it should appoint him as Punjab’s Education Minister.

“Perhaps Arvind Kejriwal should announce the Punjab Education Minister’s resignation and appoint Sonam Wangchuk in his place. If he truly believes Mr Wangchuk has the answers to fixing India’s education system, this would be the perfect opportunity to let him begin with Punjab,” he wrote.

Malviya added that accountability “cannot depend on which party is in power” and should remain “uniform, principled and free from political convenience.”

Poonawalla Targets Harjot Bains

Joining the attack, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Harjot Bains of refusing to take responsibility for the alleged paper leak controversy. Sharing a video of the Punjab minister on X, Poonawalla criticised Bains for continuing in office despite the allegations and questioned why he had not resigned.

In a strongly worded post, the BJP spokesperson referred to Bains as a “shameless clown” and alleged that he was attempting to brazen out the controversy instead of accepting responsibility.