AAP protest Apeejay School: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised sharp questions after the principal and manager of Apeejay School were found at Education Minister Ashish Sood’s residence late Monday night with students’ admit cards in hand. Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to clarify what relationship Ashish Sood has with the school, noting that issuing admit cards is solely the school’s responsibility.
AAP protest Apeejay School: ‘Why Were Admit Cards at the Minister’s House?’
Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned why the principal and manager were sitting at the Education Minister’s house with admit cards instead of distributing them to students.
He added that Ashish Sood, who calls himself the guardian of 18 lakh children, should have filed an FIR against the school for withholding admit cards if he truly stood with students. Instead, he alleged, the government lacked the courage to act.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters on Tuesday along with MLAs Sanjeev Jha and Kuldeep Kumar, Bharadwaj said that the same Apeejay School principal and manager, against whom AAP had staged a protest throughout Monday, were later found at the minister’s residence.
“What exactly is the relationship between Ashish Sood and the Apeejay School principal? Are they relatives or friends? Issuing admit cards is the school’s duty, yet the principal was sitting at the minister’s house with them. Why were they there?” he asked.
AAP protest Apeejay School: Allegations of Fee Blackmail Ahead of Class 10 Board Exams
The AAP leader emphasised that the Class 10 board examination was scheduled for Tuesday, and from Monday morning until 9:00 PM, the school allegedly pressured parents.
“The school clearly stated that admit cards would only be issued if the increased fees were paid; otherwise, they would not be given,” he said.
He noted that disputes over school fees are particularly distressing for parents because children bear the consequences. “Parents can fight their own battles, but they cannot fight their children’s battles, as children are harassed at school,” he said.
Reference to DPS Dwarka Case
Citing the example of DPS Dwarka, Bharadwaj alleged that children there were not allowed to sit in classrooms and were instead made to sit in the library daily.
“They were harassed and humiliated in front of other students because their parents had not paid the fees,” he claimed, adding that no FIR had yet been registered despite court orders.
Saurabh Bharadwaj Demands for FIR Under Juvenile Justice Act
Targeting Ashish Sood, Bharadwaj said it was disgraceful for him to call himself the guardian of Delhi’s children if a Class 10 student had to wait until 9:00 PM before an exam to receive her admit card.
He cited Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which prescribes punishment for cruelty towards children, including acts causing mental or physical suffering.
“Withholding admit cards right before an examination legally amounts to mental harassment and cruelty. Why has Ashish Sood not filed an FIR?” he questioned.
Alleged Administrative Inaction
Bharadwaj stated that parents had written multiple letters to the Director of Education, Deputy Director (South), and the Education Secretary, alleging that admit cards were being withheld.
He said parents had sent cheques for government-approved fees directly and through the District Magistrate (South), copying education authorities in each communication.
“Even if Ashish Sood claims he was unaware, why has no action been taken against officials concerned?” he asked, alleging collusion between the minister, education officials, and the school management.
MLAs Allege ‘Higher Authority’ Pressure
Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha said AAP had staged a sit-in outside the school from morning until late night.
“During our discussion, the principal said his hands were tied and that if he received a call from ‘above,’ he would issue the admit cards,” Jha said.
He alleged that after a photograph surfaced showing the principal with Ashish Sood, it became clear who the “higher authority” was.
Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar said they remained outside the school from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM until admit cards were issued.
“The most shocking part was that the same principal we met at the school was later found at Ashish Sood’s house. This clearly means the children were harassed at the behest of the government,” he alleged.
AAP Claims Victory After Protest
Kuldeep Kumar rejected Ashish Sood’s claim of being unaware, stating that media reports in mid-February had already highlighted the issue.
He concluded that due to AAP’s protest, the school was ultimately forced to issue the admit cards.
“Both worked together to harass the children, but in the end, truth prevailed, and due to Aam Aadmi Party’s struggle, they were forced to relent,” he said.
