AAP Delhi Unit Chief Saurabh Bhardwaj said the BJP government, exposed over orders that effectively put Delhi government school teachers in charge of monitoring stray dogs, has now begun filing FIRs against Aam Aadmi Party workers. AAP has pointed out that while its workers are being targeted with frivolous cases, no FIR has been registered against DPS despite documented evidence of harassment of students over unpaid fees and a clear recommendation from the District Magistrate.
Taking to X, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “The BJP Government and Education Minister Ashish Sood could not dare to get FIR registered against DPS school in spite of the recommendation of DM (District Magistrate) and all proofs. He (the Minister) is threatening AAP volunteers with FIR. AAP is not scared of these frivolous cases.”
Addressing the BJP government, he further wrote: “Why was no one from the DPS school administration arrested? Are you scared of them? Are you hand-in-glove with them? In spite of harassment of young students, you did not get FIR registered. Listen to this video, parents are exposing you.”
In another post, tagging Education Minister Ashish Sood, the AAP Delhi Unit Chief wrote: “Mr Ashish Sood, tell me the name of one school which rolled back the increased fee? Almost all private schools hiked their fee after you (BJP) came to power.”
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader and MLA Sanjeev Jha stated, “On Thursday, the Director of Education held a press conference and stated that no order of any kind had been issued regarding stray dogs, and even claimed that a police complaint had been filed against those spreading false information. On Friday, Education Minister Ashish Sood also held a press conference and said that a police complaint had been filed and an FIR would be registered. AAP had earlier shown the circulars issued by the Education Department. The Education Minister or the Director of Education must clearly explain who issued these circulars.”
Referring to documentary evidence, Sanjeev Jha said, “We are showing two circulars issued by the Delhi government’s Education Department. One circular, issued on 20 November by the Care Taking Branch of the Directorate of Education, states that nodal officers will be appointed in every school for the management of stray dogs. The second circular, issued on 5 December, orders all educational institutions, schools, and stadiums to submit details of their nodal officers, describes it as ‘most urgent,’ and directs that information related to stray dogs be provided at the earliest.”
Displaying another order, he continued, “We are also showing a third order issued by the Deputy Director of Education of the North West District, which contains a complete list of teachers appointed as nodal officers in different schools. For example, in Mukherjee Nagar, New Police Line, a TGT teacher has been appointed as the nodal officer. Similarly, the list includes the names of several PGT and TGTs. If these orders are not from the Education Department, then who issued the 5 December circular and what action will be taken? Were these orders issued without the knowledge and instructions of the Director of Education or the Education Minister?”
Pointing to the continued existence of the orders, the AAP MLA added, “These circulars are still in force. In no press conference has the Education Minister or the Director of Education said that these circulars have been withdrawn. If teachers have been appointed as nodal officers to monitor stray dogs, then these circulars must be withdrawn. Mere statements will not suffice. Attempts should not be made to intimidate people by playing the FIR game. In a democracy, Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar’s Constitution gives us the right to raise our voice if any wrong order affects education, schools, or teachers, and AAP is not afraid of FIRs.”
“The Education Minister talks about filing FIRs against those who raise their voice, but complaints of parental harassment emerged from several private schools in Delhi, and the District Magistrate’s report confirmed that children were harassed at DPS. Why was no FIR filed there? Is the Education Minister afraid because these are powerful people, or is there collusion,” he pointedly asked.
The senior AAP leader continued, “Where children were harassed and parents were ignored, how many FIRs were filed? Answer this. All private schools have increased their fees. The BJP Chief Minister and the Education Minister had said action would be taken. They should tell how many private schools were forced to reduce or return fees. When AAP was in power, private schools were made to go door to door to return money to parents. If Ashish Sood is not colluding, he should name one school whose fees he got refunded. Nothing has been done, which shows the Education Minister stands with the education mafia, not with parents or children.”
He said that there is off-the-record talk, and even private school owners are saying that rates have now been fixed for obtaining school recognition. The rate for schools up to Class 5 has been fixed at ₹15 lakh and for schools up to Class 12 at ₹25 lakh. The government should act here instead of trying to suppress voices. AAP is not afraid. Our National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders have already been to jail, so how will FIRs scare us? The government must clarify whether the circulars shown have been withdrawn or not.
On the other hand, Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar stated, “It is possible that the Education Minister is unaware of these circulars because his attention is not on the Education Department, which is why circulars are being issued without his knowledge. But the BJP-led MCD has also issued a circular assigning duties to 97 teachers. It appears the Education Minister is extremely rattled. They thought they could issue any circular and no one would notice. But AAP is the main opposition in Delhi, and we will question the BJP government on every issue connected to the public.”
The AAP MLA affirmed, “BJP’s authoritarianism will not be allowed in Delhi, and it will be exposed. The Education Minister is trying to intimidate us by threatening FIRs, but how many people will he file cases against? News about monitoring stray dogs has appeared on every media platform. In reality, the BJP government wants to divert attention from its failures of the last ten months by playing the FIR game.”
Calling out false promises, he said, “Lies do not suit the Education Minister, although the entire BJP government stands on lies. If an FIR should be filed for spreading lies, the first one should be against CM Rekha Gupta. She lied to the public that Delhi’s senior citizens’ pensions would be released at midnight on PM Narendra Modi’s birthday, but the pensions have still not been released.”
“The second FIR should be against the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi announced that on 8 March, International Women’s Day, Delhi’s women would receive ₹2,500 in their accounts. He also lied about giving free gas cylinders on Holi and Diwali. Holi and Diwali passed, the New Year arrived, but not even a ₹500 cylinder was given. Votes were taken by misleading people with lies. Delhi Police will not file FIRs against the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or BJP leaders for false promises, but they will file cases against those who raise their voice for teachers,” stated the AAP MLA.
Issuing a warning, Kuldeep Kumar continued, “If the BJP changes the name of schools associated with Dr B R Ambedkar, AAP will raise its voice and Delhi Police will file FIRs. If pollution rises and people protest, they will be sent to jail. If BJP builds a fake Yamuna and we expose it, FIRs will be filed. Let them file cases, we are not afraid. We are ready to go to jail for teachers, but we will not allow Delhi’s education system to be destroyed.”
Noting AAP’s education legacy, the AAP MLA asserted, “Former CM Arvind Kejriwal and former Education Minister Manish Sisodia brought revolutionary changes to Delhi’s education system after great struggles. They fulfilled the dreams of poor and Dalit children who aspired to get into the IITs, clear the JEE Mains, or become IAS and IPS officers. If the BJP government destroys Delhi’s education system and forces teachers to do unnecessary work, AAP will not remain silent. We will raise our voice from the streets to the House. The BJP government may file as many FIRs as it wants against AAP workers, but it must also file FIRs against the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister.”
