By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of raising allegations over school textbooks despite what he described as repeated shortages during Arvind Kejriwal’s 11-year tenure in Delhi.
Kapoor claimed that textbooks were frequently unavailable during Kejriwal’s tenure, with entire academic sessions passing without students receiving their books. He said textbooks had been supplied regularly over the past two years, but AAP leaders were now questioning the process.
According to the BJP spokesperson, students in Classes 6 to 12 faced textbook shortages in Delhi throughout the period. He also alleged that a shortage emerged in municipal schools after the AAP-led government took charge of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2022.
Kapoor said court records showed that textbook supply failures reached the courts almost every year during the previous administration, with the Education Department repeatedly facing judicial reprimands.
BJP Questions AAP’s Allegations on Paper Quality
Targeting former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kapoor questioned his criticism of the quality of paper used in school textbooks. He argued that Bharadwaj was raising concerns about textbook quality despite the shortages that, according to the BJP, had occurred during his party’s tenure.
Kapoor also alleged that Bharadwaj was repeating earlier accusations of corruption. He cited the AAP leader’s previous allegation of a 40 per cent commission in connection with the Delhi Government’s bicycle distribution scheme for girl students, claiming that a similar charge was now being levelled over textbooks.
The BJP spokesperson challenged Bharadwaj to explain the repeated use of the same commission percentage in his allegations.
Punjab Government Also Targeting Delhi, Says BJP
Kapoor further accused the Punjab Government of targeting the Delhi Government through allegations to divert attention from its own shortcomings.
He claimed that the pattern of accusations would continue until the Punjab Assembly elections.
The remarks come amid a political exchange between the BJP and AAP over textbook procurement, supply and quality. The allegations cited by Kapoor represent the BJP’s position; the press note does not include a response from AAP or independent verification of the claims.
