Punjab Assembly sees heated clash over alleged paper leak issue; Congress MLAs walk out; Watch Video
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 3, 2026: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha witnessed high drama on the opening day of its session as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Congress clashed over the alleged pharmacy examination paper leak.
The heated exchange between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains was followed by a walkout by Congress MLAs.
During Question Hour, Bajwa raised the alleged paper leak issue and demanded Bains’ resignation. He said several incidents of examination paper leaks had surfaced during the AAP government’s tenure.
Referring to the NEET examination controversy, Bajwa said Bains had earlier demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of irregularities. He questioned whether Bains would now accept responsibility and resign over the alleged paper leak in Punjab.
Congress MLAs, dressed in white and wearing black scarves around their necks, raised slogans against the state government. The uproar disrupted the proceedings, forcing the House to be adjourned briefly.
Responding to the allegations, Bains said he had come to the House fully prepared with facts and documents. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “I have come fully prepared. Don’t run away from the debate.” He accused Congress MLAs of leaving the House instead of participating in the discussion and described them as “fugitives from the Vidhan Sabha.”
As the commotion intensified, the Speaker appealed to members to maintain order, saying that Question Hour was meant to discuss issues concerning Punjab’s three crore people and should not be disrupted.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also hit out at the Congress, saying the party itself had “been leaked” and weakened in Punjab. He claimed that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government had provided nearly 70,000 government jobs purely on merit and maintained that no examination paper had been leaked in the state.
Amid continued sloganeering and exchanges between the ruling and opposition benches, Congress MLAs walked out of the House in protest.