BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday accused the AAP-led government in Punjab of being the “biggest example” of misuse of state machinery, alleging that “protectors are becoming predators”.Addressing a press conference in the national capital, he claimed that rampant paper leaks were taking place in the state, students were terrified and the law and order situation had crumbled.“Today, the AAP government in Punjab has become one of the biggest examples of the misuse of government machinery. How protectors have become predators, devouring Punjab’s economy and peace, and eating up the state’s assets. The law and order situation has hit rock bottom, and there are extortion, bribery and torture centres…” he said.The Rajya Sabha MP also raised the recent Barnala lathi-charge incident in which state police allegedly used force against protesting sanitation workers, including women, who were demanding job regularisation and their rights.On the paper leak incidents, the BJP leader said the AAP, which had promised “Sikhya Kranti” (education revolution), had given Punjab “Paper Leak Kranti”, adding that this was not the first incident but the sixth in four years.“Case in point is the official merit list of the Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board (PSSSB) contains students’ names such as ‘State Bank of India’, ‘Smile’, ‘Photo’ and ‘GIF’. These ‘candidates’ appeared in the examination and were even awarded marks. This is not a bona fide lapse but a straightforward mala fide case,” he said.Chugh also claimed that an undeclared censorship was in place in the northern state, where the Chief Minister’s office decides what newspapers write and publish and what television channels show or omit.“The whole of Punjab is gripped by an atmosphere of fear. If anyone raises their voice, they are beaten, thrashed, and subjected to casteist remarks publicly,” he added.He further alleged that the government in Punjab was being run by the hands of mafias.Asked about the infighting in the Congress, Chugh said it was no longer a hidden matter, but the real question was something else.He said former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had himself placed before the Congress high command the allegation that the Punjab Congress was discriminating against leaders and workers of the Scheduled Caste.