Chandigarh, 03 August (H.S.): The Punjab Vidhan

Sabha on Monday passed a Censure Motion by voice vote against repeated paper

leaks across the country, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accusing the

BJP-led Union Government of failing to protect the future of millions of

students.

Winding up the debate, Mann said repeated examination

paper leaks had shattered the aspirations of students and their families. He

alleged that young people demanding justice were met with police action, tear

gas shells and pellet guns instead of accountability.

The Chief Minister announced that the adopted motion

would be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Ministry of

Education and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. He said the Centre must take

stringent measures to prevent further leaks and restore public confidence in

the examination and education system.

Mann claimed that 93 paper leak incidents had taken

place across India since 2014, including 65 between 2019 and 2024. He said the

highest number of such cases had been reported from states governed by the BJP,

including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

He alleged that examination papers were being sold to

influential and affluent people, destroying the dreams of deserving candidates

who spend years preparing for competitive examinations. He also referred to

student deaths linked to the uncertainty surrounding the NEET examination and

demanded financial assistance of ₹1 crore each for the affected families.

The Chief Minister said cases registered against

students who protested over examination irregularities should be withdrawn

immediately. He criticised the Centre for repeatedly ordering investigations

without ensuring punishment for those responsible.

Mann also questioned the credibility of the national

examination system, claiming that repeated leaks had damaged the value of

Indian professional degrees abroad. He said students who had genuinely earned

medical, engineering and other professional qualifications were often required

to undergo additional tests in foreign countries because of doubts over the

examination process.

Highlighting Punjab’s record, Mann said no paper leak

had taken place in the state during more than four years of the Aam Aadmi Party

government. He clarified that isolated incidents of cheating involving digital

devices and scanning pens were different from organised paper leaks. He said

such cases had been detected by the government, FIRs were registered and those

involved were arrested.

The Chief Minister also criticised Congress legislators

for walking out during the debate. He said almost every other member supported

the motion, while Congress chose to boycott proceedings despite the issue

directly affecting the country’s youth.

Mann said the walkout exposed the Opposition’s lack of

seriousness and claimed that empty Opposition benches offered a glimpse of the

political situation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The Censure Motion called upon the Union Government to ensure transparent

and secure examinations, punish those involved in paper leak networks and

protect the interests of students across the country.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH