Punjab Congress Demands CM Mann’s Resignation Over Repeated Exam Paper Leaks

Chandigarh, July 2026 : The political battle over examination paper leaks intensified on Wednesday, with Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to safeguard the integrity of the state’s recruitment and examination system, Warring said repeated paper leak incidents had shattered the confidence of students and job aspirants across Punjab.

Drawing a parallel with the nationwide controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak, Warring argued that accountability should not be limited to the Centre. He said that just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were being questioned over examination irregularities at the national level, the Punjab government must also take responsibility for repeated lapses within the state.

“The youth of Punjab deserve answers, not excuses,” Warring said, asserting that Chief Minister Mann and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains should step down for failing to prevent recurring examination scandals.

The Congress leader reminded the government of statements made by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the past, when he had claimed that any government under AAP would ensure that those responsible for paper leaks would be held accountable and forced to resign. Warring questioned why the same standards were not being applied now that similar incidents had occurred under the Punjab government.

Listing a series of alleged examination irregularities, Warring said the Punjab Group-B recruitment examination paper leak, which surfaced six months ago, remained unresolved. He also referred to earlier controversies involving the Class 12 English examination, the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET), and the Pharmacist Recruitment Examination, all of which allegedly witnessed paper leaks or irregularities.

According to him, four major examination scandals have taken place during the tenure of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, yet there has been little visible progress in investigations or action against those responsible.

“Tell us when Bhagwant Mann will resign,” Warring asked, adding that students who dedicate years to preparing for competitive examinations should not have their futures jeopardised because of administrative failures.

The Congress leader also accused the Punjab government of suppressing protests instead of addressing students’ concerns. Referring to demonstrations held after the alleged pharmacy recruitment paper leak, he claimed that protesting candidates were lathi-charged, assaulted and dispersed by police personnel instead of receiving assurances of a transparent investigation.

Warring said the Chief Minister owed the people of Punjab an explanation regarding how the pharmacy examination paper was leaked and what concrete measures had been taken to identify and punish those responsible.

He maintained that both the Union and Punjab governments had failed to protect the interests of students and ensure fair recruitment processes, adding that repeated examination scandals were damaging the credibility of educational institutions and recruitment agencies.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee also intensified its campaign by organising a protest at Sector 17 Plaza against the alleged police crackdown on students demonstrating at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over paper leaks and corruption in the education system.

Addressing party workers during the protest, Chandigarh Congress President H.S. Lucky alleged that nearly 152 recruitment and competitive examinations across the country had reportedly been affected by paper leaks in recent years, destroying the aspirations of millions of young candidates. He called for comprehensive reforms to restore transparency, accountability and public confidence in India’s examination system while demanding strict action against those responsible for recurring leaks.