Bhatinda, August 10: Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has issued an open challenge to Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to debate the numerous paper leak and recruitment scams in Punjab.
During a protest at Government Rajindra College, Badal demanded that Kejriwal explain why no action has been taken against any responsible officials despite over ten instances of exam paper leaks affecting more than one million students.
Badal addressed the gathering under the ‘Bhavikh Bachao Morcha,’ led by the student wing of the Akali Dal, the ‘Students Organization of India’ (SOI). The group is calling for the resignations of ministers Harjot Bains and Balbir Singh, as well as a CBI investigation into the paper leak cases.
Criticizing Kejriwal for showing false sympathy towards students in Delhi while ignoring those in Punjab, Badal questioned, “Aren’t they your children? Why are you betraying the students of Punjab? Who will fight for their rights?”
He challenged Kejriwal to a public debate at a university of his choice in Punjab, stating, “I will expose you. I will present facts and figures to the people of Punjab about how paper leaks occurred and how jobs were given to outsiders, neglecting the youth of Punjab.”
As students chanted for Harjot Bains to resign, Badal condemned the AAP government for denying the paper leak incidents, despite the Chief Minister previously acknowledging them in a post and the Punjab-Haryana High Court halting several recruitments due to widespread irregularities.
“If there hadn’t been any paper leaks, thousands of students wouldn’t be protesting here,” he asserted, announcing that the movement would continue until the ‘guilty’ minister resigns.
Encouraging students to pledge to keep ‘Delhi-walas’ out of Punjab permanently, Badal stated, “SAD is committed to taking strong action against all those who have ruined our children’s future. The Shiromani Akali Dal is your party in Punjab; we promise your safety because you are our family, and this is our home. We are not outsiders, and that is the biggest difference.”
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