Chandigarh: Punjab Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over recurring controversies surrounding recruitment and competitive examinations, alleging that repeated irregularities have eroded the confidence of young aspirants in the state’s recruitment system.

Bajwa said the future of lakhs of deserving candidates cannot be compromised due to administrative failures or the government’s refusal to accept accountability.

Bajwa Questions Government’s Claims

The Congress leader said the AAP government has consistently claimed that no examination paper has been leaked during its tenure. However, he alleged that the last four-and-a-half years have witnessed several controversies involving recruitment examinations and the integrity of the examination process.

He cited allegations related to the Naib Tehsildar recruitment examination, the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET), the cancellation of the Class 12 English board examination following a confirmed paper leak, the Group-B recruitment controversy and the recent Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination.

‘Changing Terminology Does Not Change Reality’

Bajwa questioned the government’s handling of the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination, stating that avoiding the term “paper leak” does not alter the seriousness of the issue.

He said if the sanctity of an examination has been compromised, organised cheating has allegedly taken place and the credibility of an entire recruitment process has come under question, the government must explain who will be held accountable.

“The government may refuse to describe the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination as a paper leak, but changing the terminology does not change the reality,” Bajwa said.

Demands Equal Standards of Accountability

The Leader of the Opposition also questioned what he described as different standards being applied to similar incidents across the country.

He said political parties, including the AAP and the BJP, often demand resignations and accountability when examination paper leaks occur in other states, and asked why Punjab should be treated differently.

Bajwa asserted that accountability should remain consistent irrespective of the state where such incidents occur.