New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra on Thursday led party workers in staging a protest outside the Aam Aadmi Party’s office here to demand the dismissal of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains over paper leaks.
Malhotra said the protest was aimed at exposing the AAP’s double standards and dual politics on the issue of accountability over paper leaks.
“When the issue of paper leaks arose at the national level, AAP was the first to block roads, create disruptions, and demand the resignation of the Union Education Minister. The party delivered lectures on morality and accountability. But I ask AAP — what has happened in Punjab over the last four-and-a-half years?” said Malhotra
The Punjab Teacher Eligibility Test (PTET) paper was leaked; the Class 12 English examination paper was leaked, and the Pharmacy Officer and PSSSB recruitment examination papers were also leaked, said Malhotra.
“The future of thousands of students has been put at risk. Who is responsible? The answer is Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains,” said Malhotra.
He said that the BJP demands immediate dismissal of Harjot Singh Bains; strict action against all those responsible and a public apology to the three million students of Punjab.
Malhotra added, “AAP has transformed Punjab’s so-called ‘Education Revolution’ into a ‘Paper Leak Revolution’.”
“Why does AAP, which demands morality from the Centre, fall silent when it comes to Punjab? Arvind Kejriwal had said that if a paper leak occurred, the concerned minister would be made to resign. So, when will the Punjab Education Minister resign?” he asked.
Thousands of workers from the BJP Yuva Morcha, OBC Morcha, and Purvanchal Morcha, led by their respective presidents Rajat Chaudhary, Santosh Pal and Santosh Ojha, participated in the protest and courted arrest.
The police took the protesters from Canning Lane to Mandir Marg Police Station, from where they were released after about an hour with a warning, said a Delhi BJP statement.
Delhi BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal, who conducted the proceedings, said the people of the country, especially the youth, are shocked by Kejriwal’s initial silence and subsequent attempts to deny the paper leak incidents in Punjab.
BJP leaders and office-bearers present at the protest included MPs Yogendra Chandolia, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Bansuri Swaraj and Swati Maliwal; Delhi BJP General Secretaries Yogita Singh and Mohanlal Gihara, the statement said.
–IANS
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