Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday mounted a strong defence of his government’s recruitment process, asserting that not a single examination paper has leaked in Punjab during the last four-and-a-half years. Rejecting allegations levelled by the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann said the state’s recruitment system is based on transparency, merit and accountability, with no room for recommendations, bribery or manipulation.
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, the Chief Minister accused opposition parties of attempting to tarnish Punjab’s image and undermine the achievements of its youth for political advantage.
Mann said his government has provided nearly 69,000 government jobs strictly on merit since assuming office, maintaining that the recruitment process has remained free from corruption and political interference. “No Cash, No Recommendation and No Paper Leak” has become the guiding principle of the Punjab Government, he said, adding that deserving candidates have been selected solely on the basis of merit.
Addressing allegations surrounding recent examination-related controversies, the Chief Minister clarified that there had been no paper leak in Punjab. He referred to an incident during a pharmacy examination, explaining that authorities had detected an attempt to cheat shortly after the examination began.
According to Mann, officials discovered that a candidate was allegedly using a Bluetooth-enabled device to transmit examination questions and receive answers from individuals operating outside the examination centre. He said the Punjab Police acted swiftly, arresting the candidates involved along with members of the alleged network behind the operation. The examination, he added, continued without disruption after immediate intervention by law enforcement agencies.
The Chief Minister stressed that the incident represented an isolated attempt at cheating rather than a breach of examination security, arguing that the prompt response demonstrated the effectiveness of the state’s monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Responding to demands from opposition parties seeking the resignation of the Education Minister, Mann maintained that the pharmacy examination was conducted under the Health Department and not the Education Department. He reiterated that the Health Department had already clarified that no paper leak had occurred and that the examination process remained secure throughout.
Launching a broader political attack, the Chief Minister accused the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal of spreading misleading narratives to discredit Punjab and its hardworking youth. He said such allegations unfairly questioned the integrity of thousands of young people who had secured government employment through competitive examinations.
Mann argued that Punjab’s recruitment process has undergone a fundamental transformation under his administration, replacing what he described as earlier practices of favouritism and corruption with a transparent merit-based system.
He also criticised opposition parties for what he called attempts to derive political mileage by targeting Punjab’s governance model. Instead of questioning the credibility of Punjab’s recruitment process, he said, political opponents should focus on addressing issues within their own organisations.
During his interaction with the media, the Chief Minister also reflected on the importance of democratic engagement, saying political differences are natural in a democracy but should never become personal divisions. He emphasised that dialogue among political leaders remains essential despite ideological disagreements.
The Chief Minister maintained that his government’s record on recruitment speaks for itself, pointing to nearly 69,000 appointments made without allegations of bribery or political patronage. He said Punjab’s young aspirants deserve recognition for their hard work and success rather than becoming targets of political controversy.
Mann asserted that the state government would continue to strengthen transparent recruitment mechanisms and ensure that every deserving candidate receives equal opportunity based solely on merit. He said safeguarding the integrity of public examinations remains central to the government’s commitment to fair governance and youth empowerment.
This is a web generated news report.
