New Delhi/Chandigarh, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday asserted that not a single examination paper has leaked in the state during the last four-and-a-half years, while claiming that his government has provided nearly 69,000 government jobs strictly on the basis of merit, without recommendations or bribery.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Parliament, where he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and several Members of Parliament, Mann accused the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal of attempting to defame Punjab and its youth by making what he termed “false allegations” of paper leaks.
“The beauty of democracy is that people should continue to meet and interact with one another. Political differences are natural, but they should never become differences of heart,” the Chief Minister said.
Rejecting the Opposition’s allegations over examination irregularities, Mann said his government has completed four-and-a-half years in office without any paper leak in Punjab.
Referring to a recent incident during a pharmacy examination, the Chief Minister said it was a case of cheating and not a paper leak. He claimed that within minutes of the examination beginning, authorities detected a candidate allegedly using a Bluetooth-enabled pen and an earpiece to receive answers from an external network.
According to Mann, Punjab Police acted promptly, arresting 10 candidates and an 11-member gang allegedly involved in facilitating the malpractice. He said those arrested had been sent to jail and reiterated that the state’s recruitment system functions on the principle of “No Cash, No Farmaish, Only Merit.”
Responding to the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of the Education Minister, Mann said the examination in question was conducted by the Health Department and not the Education Department. He added that the Health Minister had already clarified that no paper leak had occurred and that the examination was completed successfully after the alleged cheating attempt was thwarted.
The Chief Minister also targeted the Shiromani Akali Dal, claiming the party had lost its political relevance in Punjab. He criticised the BJP over its protests on the paper leak issue, saying it should first address matters concerning demonstrations at Jantar Mantar before levelling allegations against Punjab.
Highlighting his government’s recruitment record, Mann said 68,855 government jobs had been provided without accepting money or political recommendations. He maintained that corruption and irregularities in recruitment had become a thing of the past in Punjab and accused the BJP, Congress and Akali Dal of trying to malign the hard work and dedication of Punjab’s youth for political purposes.
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