"Planning future strategy": CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Punjab paper leak issue

New Delhi [India], July 26 : Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said that the party will look into the Punjab exam paper leak issue and announce its future course of action soon.
"We will announce the future strategy soon. It only just ended yesterday; please give us a little time. We will address that too; we are currently planning for it," Dipke said.
The CJP founder also said that discussions are underway with the government regarding FIRs registered against students involved in the protests, and demanded that no cases be filed against students.
"Talks are underway concerning the cases that have been filed. No cases should be registered against any student," he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema called for stronger preventive measures and greater state autonomy instead of relying solely on stricter penalties to address examination irregularities.
"The government is proposing amendments to the paper leak law to impose stricter penalties, including fast-track courts, quicker investigations, fines of up to Rs 10 crore, and increasing the minimum prison sentence from three to five years, and the maximum sentence of ten years. The priority should be preventing paper leaks in the first place through stronger security protocols and clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)," Cheema said.
He said the anti-paper leak law, enacted in 2024, requires amendments and stressed that future efforts should focus on prevention rather than only increasing punishments.
Cheema proposed a collaborative model where individual states conduct their own entrance exams while the Centre acts as an enabler by setting security standards and offering technological support.
"As a federal country, India should empower states to conduct their own entrance examinations, while the Government of India provides security standards, SOPs, and tech support. Given the vast geographical, linguistic, infrastructural, and technological differences across states, a single centralised system remains vulnerable to paper leaks. Since states already provide the infrastructure, staff, police, and examination centres, they should be trusted with greater responsibility. Strengthening cooperative federalism and reducing the trust deficit between the Centre and the states would create a more secure examination system and better protect students' interests," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress Working President Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging that while the party was protesting against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, an examination paper was allegedly leaked in Punjab.
"This is a highly condemnable matter. When the NEET paper leak occurred, hundreds of thousands of students from across the country protested at Jantar Mantar, leading to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, which was a major victory. However, the AAP was protesting at Jantar Mantar and accusing the BJP government of the paper leak. Meanwhile, paper was being leaked in Punjab itself. You have jeopardised the futures of our children in Punjab," he said.
Taking a swipe at AAP, Bandala demanded similar action against Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains as was taken against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Instead of pointing fingers at Delhi, you should first expose the truth about what happened in Punjab. Just as the Central Government took action against its Education Minister, you should follow suit and demonstrate that you can take strict action within Punjab as well," he said.
Questioning the security breach at the exam centres, the Punjab Congress President further called for strict legal action against those involved in exam leaks in Punjab.
"The paper was leaked; investigative agencies are confirming it. How were the papers being scanned and answers transmitted back to students inside the exam centres? Why weren't jammers installed? Why are all these details coming to light? You are focusing on Delhi, but you need to address the situation in Punjab... Appropriate action must be taken against everyone involved in this matter," he said.
Congress leader Anil Joshi highlighted that the Pharmacy officer exam with at least 450 vacancies and 25 examination centres has been leaked following the massive protests at the national level against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case.
Calling paper leaks a "systemic problem", he raised serious concerns about the future of students in the country.
"Students are being puzzled. After the massive paper leak controversy at the national level, which led to the resignation of the Union Education Minister, a case has now emerged in Punjab. The Pharmacy Officer recruitment exam, with around 450 vacancies and 25 examination centres, was allegedly compromised. An organised nexus is said to have solved the paper from outside the examination centres using electronic devices. Political parties are demanding each other's resignations, but where do students go? Paper leaks have become a systemic problem," he said.
Earlier on Saturday, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also demanded the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Bains, alleging that six paper leaks, including the Punjab Teacher Eligibility Test, Class 12 English exam, and pharmacy officer test, had affected lakhs of aspirants in the state.