Chandigarh, July 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Central Government of attempting to suppress the voices of young people protesting against repeated examination paper leaks by resorting to police action instead of addressing their concerns.
Addressing a press conference, Mann extended his government’s support to students protesting in the national capital and alleged that the Centre was responding to demands for accountability with baton charges rather than corrective measures.
Backs Students Protesting Against Paper Leaks
The Chief Minister said India’s youth aspire to build their future through education, but recurring examination paper leaks were destroying their hopes and confidence.
He alleged that despite repeated instances of examination leaks over the years, the Centre had failed to fix accountability or ensure transparent and secure examination systems.
Mann remarked that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi often advises students on preparing for examinations, the institutions under the Union Government should instead be taught how to conduct examinations fairly and without leaks.
‘AAP Will Continue to Stand With Youth and Farmers’
The Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party would continue to support students demanding justice and also expressed solidarity with farmers protesting against the proposed India-US trade agreement.
Criticising the Haryana Government for preventing farmers from travelling to Delhi, Mann urged both the Centre and the Haryana Government not to obstruct peaceful democratic protests.
He said every citizen has the constitutional right to express opinions in a democracy and called upon the Prime Minister to engage directly with farmers over their concerns regarding the proposed India-US trade agreement.
Punjab Will Not Withdraw School Fee Regulation Ordinance
Responding to questions regarding the legal challenge mounted by private school associations against the Punjab Government’s ordinance regulating private school fees, Mann said approaching the courts was their legal right but made it clear that the State Government would not retreat from its decision.
Referring to the recent suicide of a student in Amritsar, he said the incident had deeply shaken society and reinforced the need to regulate private educational institutions.
“Education is a service, not a business,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the Punjab Government would not allow commercial exploitation of students in the name of education.
He described the fee regulation ordinance as a historic initiative aimed at protecting students and parents from arbitrary fee hikes and excessive commercialisation.
Record Performance by Government Schools
Highlighting improvements in Punjab’s education sector, Mann said the State Government was committed to strengthening government schools and ensuring quality education for every child.
He pointed out that while only 80 students from Punjab Government schools qualified the NEET examination in 2021, the number had increased to a record 881 in 2026.
The Chief Minister also said Punjab had pioneered Parent-Teacher Meetings in government schools, with around 24 lakh parents participating, while nearly 20,000 government school students, including 12,000 girls, were currently benefiting from free bus transportation provided by the State Government.
He asserted that growing public confidence in government schools reflected the success of the state’s education reforms and assured that investments in educational infrastructure and quality would continue.
Targets Shiromani Akali Dal
Taking a swipe at the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann claimed the party had lost its political relevance in Punjab.
Referring to its performance in the last Assembly elections, he alleged that after winning only three seats, the Akali Dal would fail to secure even a single seat in the next Punjab Assembly elections.
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