The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office in Delhi on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains over allegations of irregularities in a pharmacist recruitment examination.
BJP workers gathered near the AAP headquarters on Feroz Shah Road and outside the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, accusing the Punjab government of failing to ensure fair and transparent recruitment processes.
During the demonstration, protesters attempted to move past police barricades by climbing over them and trying to push them aside. Police intervened, leading to brief scuffles before the march was halted.
The protests come amid allegations of a paper leak in the pharmacist recruitment examination conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. The BJP has called for a thorough investigation and demanded Harjot Singh Bains step down.
The issue also reached Parliament on Wednesday, where Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged that Punjab has witnessed more than 11 examination paper leaks over the past four years. She cited several recruitment and board examinations, including Punjab Police Sub-Inspector, Punjab School Education Board Class 12, Naib Tehsildar, teacher eligibility, Agriculture Development Officer, Excise and Taxation Officer, and the recent pharmacist recruitment examination.
The Punjab government has denied wrongdoing in previous examination-related controversies, stating that action is taken whenever irregularities are identified.
Speaking to the media, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused the AAP of adopting double standards, saying the party opposed the Centre’s efforts to strengthen anti-paper leak laws while remaining silent over allegations in Punjab. She urged the AAP to accept the resignation of the Punjab education minister and ensure accountability over the latest controversy.
