Opposition Accuses AAP Government in Punjab of Exam Paper Leaks

Opposition parties in Punjab have intensified their criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging a history of examination paper leaks. This follows the recent dismantling of a sophisticated cheating racket linked to the pharmacy officers' recruitment examination.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has firmly rejected these allegations, stating that no exam papers have leaked during the AAP's tenure. He contended that the accusations from the opposition are unfounded attempts to mislead the public, especially as Punjab approaches upcoming elections.

The intensified scrutiny began after Punjab Police uncovered a cheating operation on July 19, arresting ten candidates and apprehending an eleven-member gang. Investigations revealed the use of advanced methods like pen cameras and real-time dictation during the pharmacy officers' examination, causing significant concern regarding the integrity of the examination process.

The cheating racket reportedly charged candidates between ₹3.5 lakh and ₹13 lakh for guaranteed passing marks. Approximately 7,000 candidates had registered to compete for 454 pharmacy officer positions across 25 examination centres, overseen by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

In response to the paper leak claims, opposition leaders have highlighted allegations of at least six similar incidents during the AAP's governance, including the cancellation of the Class 12 English board exam in February 2023 and the halt of the Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test in March 2023.

A prominent figure in the opposition, Bikram Singh Majithia of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has accused the AAP of double standards, stating that failing to hold the Punjab government accountable implies a collaboration between AAP and other parties like the Congress and the BJP.

Anil Sarin, a general secretary of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for accountability. He described the incidents as indicative of a broader decline in the security and integrity of government recruitment exams.

Following the uproar, Chief Minister Mann reiterated his position on July 28, firmly stating, "Our government has completed four-and-a-half years in office, and not a single exam paper has been leaked during this period." He dismissed the claims from the opposition as efforts to tarnish Punjab's reputation.

Balbir Singh, the Health Minister, also responded to the criticism, asserting that the incident was an attempt at cheating and not indicative of a systemic failure within the examination framework. He claimed that the situation was rapidly addressed and the examination concluded successfully.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken notice of this issue, issuing a motion related to the plea for cancelling the pharmacy exam, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the recruitment process in the state.