Determined to confront the BJP’s “Chachi 420 Government,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will restore the name Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar School of Excellence on every “CM SHRI” (Chief Minister School of High Relevance and Innovation) school this Constitution Day on 26 November. Announcing the move, senior leader and Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar said the BJP government has insulted Dalit communities by replacing Babasaheb Ambedkar’s name, and urged his followers across the country to raise their voice against a Chief Minister who “sees herself above Babasaheb” — a provocation Delhi will not tolerate.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar stated, “The Arvind Kejriwal government had named Delhi’s most outstanding government schools, known as Schools of Excellence, after Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. It was a historic step when the then CM Arvind Kejriwal dedicated these remarkable schools to the people of Delhi in honour of the Constitution’s architect, Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
He continued, “Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar drafted the Constitution of India and ensured equality, fundamental rights, and equal opportunity for every citizen. Coming from a humble background and attaining education through immense hard work, Babasaheb Ambedkar earned 32 degrees and became proficient in nine languages. He is regarded as the maker of modern India. In Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal government had named 69 Schools of Excellence as Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar School of Excellence, where every child studying there feels proud.”
Noting global respect for Babasaheb Ambedkar, Kuldeep Kumar added, “The entire world honours him. In the United States, a 19-foot statue of him has been installed as the Statue of Equality. A bronze statue of him stands at Columbia University, his statue is installed at the London School of Economics, and from Japan to Canada, statues have been erected to honour him. But as soon as it assumed power, the nine-month-old BJP government in Delhi started removing Babasaheb Ambedkar’s name from these schools.”
Highlighting the BJP’s historical attitude, he further added, “The BJP has a long history of opposing the Dalit community and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had insulted Babasaheb while standing in Parliament. Now following that same path, BJP CM Rekha Gupta is removing boards bearing Babasaheb’s name and replacing them with her own title ‘CM SHRI’. Showing a picture of a school in Rohini, he said that Babasaheb’s name has been removed and replaced with the ‘CM SHRI’ board.”
Questioning the Chief Minister directly, the AAP MLA asked, “Is Delhi’s Chief Minister greater than Babasaheb Ambedkar? Comparing the Constitution’s creator and the maker of modern India with a Chief Minister is a grave insult. Those with 32 degrees like Babasaheb are now being compared with the ‘Chachi 420 government’. This is the same party that said it would change the Constitution if it won 400 seats. After coming to power, this government removed Babasaheb Ambedkar’s pictures from government offices and is now erasing his name from schools.”
Emphasising that Ambedkar’s legacy cannot be erased, he asserted, “BJP members cannot erase Babasaheb’s name; they are not even equal to the dust of his feet. Ten days ago, the AAP reinstated Babasaheb’s name at a school in Khichripur. Wherever the name has been removed, it will be restored again.”
Announcing the party’s next step, Kuldeep Kumar shared, “On 26 November, on the occasion of Constitution Day, the Aam Aadmi Party will remove all ‘CM SHRI’ boards from every school and reinstall the boards of Dr. Ambedkar School of Excellence. I appeal to Dalit communities across the country and followers of Babasaheb to raise their voice on this issue and condemn the government that, intoxicated with power, is insulting Babasaheb. The BJP government must stop insulting the Dalit community and Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
