BJP workers clash with police outside AAP office, demand Punjab minister resign

BJP workers clash with police outside AAP office (ANI Photo)NEW DELHI: A clash broke out between police and BJP workers during a protest outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi on Thursday over the alleged paper leak in Punjab.BJP workers gathered outside the AAP office, demanding the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.Heavy security was deployed outside the party office as BJP leaders accused the Punjab government of failing to ensure accountability following the July 19 pharmacy officer recruitment examination.BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj questioned the AAP government's response, drawing a contrast with the Centre's handling of the NEET controversy."I want to ask the AAP government in Punjab: why have they not ensured any accountability regarding the compromise that occurred in the pharmacy recruitment exam in the state?" she said."On the one hand, there is PM Narendra Modi's central government—the NDA government—which, following the irregularities associated with the NEET exam, made the anti-paper leak law far more robust and stringent. It increased penalties and introduced provisions for speedy investigations and trials," she said."On the other hand, the AAP and its Punjab government have maintained complete silence, hiding behind technicalities. That is why I want to ask them: why haven't they sought the resignation of their Punjab education minister yet? Why have they failed to demonstrate any accountability towards the students whose futures they have jeopardised?" Swaraj added.Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also accused the AAP government of failing to act against repeated examination-related irregularities in Punjab."There have been six major paper leaks in Punjab over the past five years, and several instances of cheating in examinations have come to light. Even on July 19, there was massive cheating in the pharmacy examination," she said."Arvind Kejriwal, who is functioning like a 'super CM' in Punjab, has maintained complete silence on the issue. The Punjab chief minister continues to make irresponsible statements," Maliwal added.The controversy centres on the July 19 pharmacy officer recruitment examination, during which Punjab Police said they busted an alleged inter-state cheating racket.Seven alleged masterminds were arrested and 28 candidates were detained after police recovered battery-operated wireless cheating devices, including pen cameras and real-time dictation tools.Police said their investigation found no evidence of a question paper leak or the involvement of any government official.Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected the opposition's allegations, saying not a single competitive examination paper had leaked during the AAP government's four-and-a-half years in office.He said the pharmacy officer case involved an attempted cheating racket that was detected and foiled by the police.