Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday, 22 July demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, citing at least four major paper leak scandals under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state. Warring argued that accountability cannot be selective — if the Centre is answerable for national-level exam fraud, Punjab's leadership must be equally answerable for leaks on its watch.

Four Leaks, Zero Accountability

Warring catalogued the pattern of failures: the Punjab Group-B paper leak, the Class 12 English paper leak, the PSTET exam leak, and the Pharmacist Recruitment Exam leak. 'It has been six months since the Punjab Group-B paper leak. Before that, the Class 12 English, PSTET, and Pharmacist Recruitment Exam papers were also leaked,' he said, adding that there has been 'no investigation and no accountability, leave aside any action.'

AAP's Own Standard Turned Against It

Warring pointedly invoked a statement by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who had once claimed that if a paper leak occurred in Punjab, the responsible leader would be compelled to resign. Critics argue the party is now failing to meet the standard it set for itself. 'Tell us when will Bhagwant Mann resign?' Warring asked, asserting that 'Punjab's youth deserve accountability, not excuses.'

Police Action on Protesters Draws Condemnation

Warring also drew a parallel with student protests in Delhi, where demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar against paper leaks and alleged corruption in the examination system. He alleged that in Punjab, students who protested against the pharmacy paper leak 'were beaten up, assaulted, and chased away by the police.' The Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee held a separate protest on Tuesday at Sector 17 Plaza, Chandigarh, condemning what it described as a brutal lathi charge by Delhi Police on protesting students at Jantar Mantar.

The Wider National Context

Chandigarh unit President H.S. Lucky noted that nearly 152 recruitment and competitive examinations across the country have allegedly been compromised by paper leaks in recent years, shattering the aspirations of millions of young candidates. Warring drew a direct line between the Centre and state, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are accountable at the national level, while Mann and Bains must answer for Punjab's failures.

What Happens Next

The AAP government in Punjab has not yet responded publicly to the resignation demands. With student protests intensifying across multiple states and the paper leak crisis becoming a national political flashpoint, pressure on both the Centre and state administrations is unlikely to ease. Whether the Mann government orders an independent probe or faces sustained street agitation may define the political narrative in Punjab in the weeks ahead.