Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today questioned the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state over the recurring paper leaks and its failure to curb these.In a statement, Warring quoted the latest examination for recruitment of Pharmacy Officers conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), where cheating was done using technology.
He also referred to earlier paper leaks of other exams, including the Punjab School Education Board’s Class 12 English paper leak, irregularities in the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) and allegations surrounding the Punjab Group-B recruitment examination.
The PCC president said that the Punjab government needs to own up the responsibility for the paper leaks and punish the guilty. “When the AAP can demand the resignation of the union Education Minister Dahrmendra Pradhan, who of course must resign, why it cannot apply the same yardstick in Punjab also?” he asked, while remarking by shielding the guilty in Punjab AAP has only exposed it double standards.
Giving details of the PSEB Class 12 English examination which occurred in February 2023, he said, the PSEB cancelled the examination on the very day it was scheduled after reports that the question paper had been leaked.Similarly he said, in March 2023, candidates appearing for the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) discovered answer keys printed on certain question paper booklets.
He said, no concrete action had been taken in both the cases so far.The PCC president also referred to the Group-B recruitment examination controversy that took place in December last, when allegations of question paper tampering and other irregularities emerged in the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) Group-B recruitment examination.
Warring asked the government what action it had taken against the culprits and whether it had fixed responsibility at the top level. “Practice what you are preaching”, he asked the AAP, while referring to the party’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation. “Pradhan must resign and so must the AAP fix responsibility in Punjab as well”, he remarked.