Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal called out over its allegations of a paper leak in Punjab. He revealed the BJP was attempting to tarnish Punjab's transformation from 27th to number one in the country's education rankings under the Aam Aadmi Party government.
Contrasting the two parties' records, the AAP Chief pointed out that not a single paper leak had taken place during 10 years of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi or in five years of its government in Punjab, while paper leaks had become a recurring feature in BJP ruled states. He asserted that, with no real issue to raise against the Punjab government, the BJP was resorting to false allegations.
Addressing a press conference, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal took on the BJP over false allegations of a paper leak in Punjab. He said, “The AAP was in power in Delhi for 10 years, and not a single paper leak took place.
Our government has also been in power in Punjab for the last five years, and not a single paper leak has happened there either. This fact is hurting them badly. The entire country can see that paper leaks are taking place in every BJP ruled state, whereas the Aam Aadmi Party has governed two states without a single paper leak."
Explaining the incident being cited by the BJP, Arvind Kejriwal stated, "In the examination they are referring to, a few students at two examination centres managed to carry smart pens inside. Using those smart pens, they tried to scan the question paper and send photographs outside so they could receive answers from outside.
They were attempting to cheat. Those 10 or 11 students were caught immediately at the spot. There was no paper leak at all. They are falsely claiming that the paper was leaked because they have nothing else to say."
Highlighting Punjab's progress in education, the AAP Chief asserted, "When the AAP government came to power in Punjab in 2022, the state had ranked 27th in the country in the field of education the previous year. Today, Punjab has overtaken Kerala to become number one.
The tremendous work done in the education sector is now being maligned through false allegations." Referring to police action against students despite assurances from the Centre, he continued, "It is not right to take action against our own people in this manner, especially when the government had publicly promised before the entire country that no action would be taken against students.
Yet students are now facing police action, criminal cases are being filed against them, and they are being lathi charged. This only shows that the government is dishonest. Whatever it says, it does not stand by its own words."
Questioning the Centre's approach to paper leaks, Arvind Kejriwal remarked, "The Prime Minister's statements from the last four or five years are widely circulating on social media. Two years ago, the Prime Minister told Parliament that strict laws had already been enacted.
Then, in 2024, they arrested the alleged mastermind of the paper leak with great fanfare. Within three months, he secured bail, and last week the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gave him a clean chit and withdrew the case."
On the need for intent rather than just legislation, the AAP Chief emphasised, "The government and the Prime Minister simply do not have the intention to stop paper leaks. If there is no intention to act against the paper leak mafia, then what difference will more laws make?
If there had been genuine intent, the existing laws were already sufficient to take action against those responsible for paper leaks and ensure they were punished. Even if stricter laws are enacted, the AAP welcomes them.
But the first priority must be the intention to arrest the paper leak mafia, put them behind bars, and ensure they receive the harshest possible punishment.”