Sisodia accuses Delhi Government of bowing down to ‘education mafia’
The controversy over private school fee hike has once again ignited a political face-off in the national capital, with senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accusing the BJP-led Delhi Government of bowing down to the “education mafia.”
Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged that the AAP failed to take any meaningful action to regulate private schools during its 10-year tenure.
Taking to social media platform X on Saturday, Sisodia alleged that just three months into power, the BJP government has forced parents to “cry for help” as private schools are allowed to hike fee unchecked. “The same private education mafia that was restrained under Arvind Kejriwal’s government has returned like a pack of ravenous wolves under the BJP’s rule, preying on helpless parents,” he wrote.
He further claimed that the new law being brought by the BJP is merely “for show,” adding that the real authority would continue to rest with private school managements while the government would evade responsibility.
Echoing his remarks, Leader of Opposition Atishi questioned the intent behind the ordinance. “What is in this law that the BJP is hiding? Parents are repeatedly raising their voices, but not a single private school has faced action,” she posted on X, accusing the BJP of shielding private institutions.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Sisodia’s allegations as “a bundle of lies.” He said the former education minister should explain why, if AAP had actually curbed the “education mafia,” the system collapsed so quickly after their exit from power.
“The reality is that under Kejriwal’s 10-year rule, private school fee doubled or even quadrupled. The AAP government never made any law to regulate fee, nor did they act against erring schools. Now when the BJP government has introduced a law within just four months, they are running a propaganda campaign at the behest of the same private schools,” Sachdeva alleged.
Defending the new law, Sachdeva said it was evidence of the BJP’s “sensitivity” toward parents. Under the new provision, every private school will now have an 11-member committee — five of whom will be parents — that must unanimously approve any proposed fee hike.
He said: “This structure ensures transparency and parent participation. Unlike AAP, we are not making empty promises — we are implementing solutions.”
Turning the spotlight on Sisodia’s past, the BJP leader also urged him to stop deflecting attention and instead respond to questions posed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms during AAP’s tenure.
Delhi