Rs 28 per copy under BJP vs Rs 55 under AAP: Delhi Education Minister challenges AAP over textbook procurement allegations

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday hit back at the AAP over allegations of irregularities in school textbook procurement, saying the BJP government had procured books at Rs 28 per copy against Rs 55 under the previous dispensation and questioning who pocketed the difference.

Addressing a press conference, Sood asked reporters to compare the two editions using a measuring tape to verify allegations that the books printed this year were smaller in size.

His remarks came a day after AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged irregularities in the BJP government's school textbook printing and tendering process, accusing it of corruption.


Responding to the allegation, Sood displayed a copy of the tender document and said the government had followed the prescribed process.

He also referred to an order issued by the education department's secretary during the AAP government, which raised concerns over the quality of the books despite their procurement price being Rs 55 per copy.

The minister further accused the opposition of making claims without substantiating them and questioned why Bharadwaj had not specified the price of a book when asked by a reporter, while alleging that a 40 per cent commission was involved in the deal.

Sood alleged that the accusations were aimed at obstructing the work being undertaken by the education department and said the opposition was indulging in politics instead of discussing the government's initiatives.