Delhi BJP protests against Punjab education minister, demands his resignation over 'paper leaks'

On July 30, 2026, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi staged a protest outside the offices of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) near Mandi House, demanding the resignation of Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. The demonstration, led by Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, accused the current government in Punjab of allowing the leakage of examination papers over the past four and a half years, affecting the futures of approximately 30 million students in the state. The protest took place at Ferozshah Road, close to AAP’s headquarters, with participants including several BJP MPs, MLAs, and state-level officials. They alleged that six different examinations had suffered paper leaks during the tenure of the AAP-led government in Punjab. These allegations come amid growing political tensions between the BJP and AAP, particularly after AAP’s support for a previous protest that resulted in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a similar issue involving the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). According to the BJP, the leaks have undermined the integrity of the educational system and jeopardized the prospects of countless students. The protesters emphasized that these incidents reflect systemic failures within the current administration. They called for immediate action, including the resignation of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and possibly other cabinet members. The demand for resignations follows a pattern of political pressure exerted by opposition parties in response to perceived governance lapses. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of AAP, has previously denied any instances of paper leaks in Punjab under his party’s rule. In a recent statement, he acknowledged that while some students attempted to cheat using digital pens during an exam at two centers, they were promptly detected, and no actual leakage occurred. This clarification comes as part of AAP’s broader strategy to counter accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The situation gained further traction after AAP’s involvement in a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. That demonstration led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following allegations of a NEET paper leak. AAP’s support for this protest has been interpreted by critics as an attempt to shift focus away from its own governance issues in Punjab. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also publicly refuted claims of paper leaks, asserting that the state has maintained a merit-based approach to government jobs and education. His statements align with AAP’s position, reinforcing their stance that the allegations are baseless and politically motivated. The protest by Delhi BJP highlights the escalating conflict between the ruling AAP and its main opposition, the BJP, in both Delhi and Punjab. It underscores the sensitivity surrounding educational reforms and the administration of competitive exams, which are crucial for determining access to higher education and professional opportunities. As the dispute continues, the outcome will likely depend on the responses of both the Punjab government and the central authorities, who may need to investigate the allegations independently to determine their validity.