New Delhi, 13 May (H.S.): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led Centre over the NEET paper leak, calling it a betrayal of lakhs of students whose dreams were crushed by repeated failures in the examination system. Targeting the BJP on multiple fronts, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also asserted that after Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh refused to enter politics at the BJP’s behest, a campaign of intimidation had been unleashed against him.

During a media interaction, Mann said students had worked hard for months to crack the medical entrance examination, but the paper leak had severely impacted their future. He said lakhs of aspirants were in shock as the Centre failed to ensure a transparent and fair examination process.

“The students burnt the midnight oil to prepare for the examination, but their dreams were crushed due to this fraud. The Centre should have ensured a free and fair examination system that could have changed the future of millions of students,” Mann said.

Speaking on another issue, the Chief Minister also alleged that Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh was being targeted after he refused to join politics at the BJP’s request. Mann claimed that after actor Vijay found political success in Tamil Nadu, the BJP attempted to bring popular artists into politics due to their public appeal.

He alleged that after Diljit Dosanjh declined the offer, a campaign of intimidation was launched against him. Mann said the recent attack on the house of Diljit Dosanjh’s manager reflected “politics of threat and intimidation.”

Highlighting AAP’s future electoral strategy in Punjab, Mann said the party would seek a fresh mandate based on its “Rangla Punjab” vision. He claimed that the AAP government had delivered on key welfare promises, including free electricity to nearly 90 percent of households and cashless healthcare benefits worth ₹10 lakh. Mann said Punjab was witnessing development-driven governance and expressed confidence that the Aam Aadmi Party would return to power with a massive mandate in the next elections.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH