By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi Convenor Saurabh Bhardwaj of engaging in political propaganda involving schoolchildren, alleging that children were enticed with cake and made to participate in a political video outside a school.
Kapoor strongly condemned the alleged conduct and claimed that portraying schoolchildren in political videos in such a manner is prohibited under the Delhi Education Act. He pointed out that Bhardwaj himself had served as Delhi’s Education Minister and therefore would be aware of the relevant provisions.
The BJP spokesperson also urged the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) to take cognisance of what he described as political propaganda involving schoolchildren.
The remarks came amid an AAP protest near the Delhi Secretariat over the procurement of bicycles being distributed to girl students in Delhi government schools. AAP leaders alleged irregularities in the procurement process and questioned the quality of the bicycles.
Kapoor said that if AAP believes there was corruption in the procurement of bicycles under the Delhi Vidya Vahini Yojana, it should file a police complaint or approach the courts rather than involve schoolchildren in political campaigning.
Meanwhile, information provided by the bicycle contractor to Page 3 News Worldwide stated that the procurement was carried out through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) following a transparent tender process. The contractor maintained that the bicycles supplied conform to the specifications and standards prescribed by the Delhi government.
According to the specification sheet cited by the contractor, a test report demonstrating conformity with the prescribed specifications from a Central Government, NABL, ILAC or BIS-accredited laboratory would also be provided to the buyer on demand.
Kapoor further alleged that Bhardwaj and the AAP were politically frustrated by the implementation of welfare initiatives by the Rekha Gupta government, including the distribution of bicycles to schoolgirls, a monthly ₹2,500 Samman Rashi for women and free LPG cylinders for women in need.
The BJP spokesperson dismissed the allegations raised by AAP as baseless and fabricated, while reiterating his demand that the child-rights body examine the alleged involvement of schoolchildren in political activity.
