New Delhi, August 31: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat on Monday regarding a multi-crore scam linked to the purchase of bicycles distributed to schoolgirls.
Led by AAP’s Delhi state president Saurabh Bhardwaj, a large group of party leaders and workers rallied against the Delhi government. The protesters demanded an investigation into the alleged bicycle purchase scam, the filing of an FIR, and the immediate dismissal of Education Minister Ashish Sood. During the protest, Bhardwaj claimed that bicycles, which cost around ₹4,000 in the market, were purchased by the Delhi government for approximately ₹7,000 each.
He asserted that the government procured around 130,000 bicycles, resulting in significant losses to the public treasury, and alleged that a commission of about ₹40 crore was involved in collusion between the government and contractors. Bhardwaj mentioned that a complaint had been filed with the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) regarding this matter, but no FIR had been registered so far. He accused Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of failing to take any concrete action in this case.
According to Bhardwaj, AAP leaders visited the Secretariat on Monday to meet with the Chief Minister, but the meeting did not take place. He stated that the party would meet with the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday to demand action regarding the bicycle purchase and other alleged scams. Bhardwaj emphasized that the government should conduct an immediate investigation into the entire matter. He called for the resignation of Minister Sood, stating that the party would continue its movement until action is taken.
While the allegations of corruption in the bicycle purchase and the ₹40 crore commission have been made by AAP, this statement does not provide information on any independent investigation or judicial confirmation of these claims.
Meanwhile, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha from Burari stated that the party has presented evidence related to the alleged scam in the Delhi Assembly. He mentioned that letters have also been sent to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister regarding the issue, but no action has been taken yet.
Jha noted that AAP has lodged a complaint with the ACB and will demand strict action during the upcoming meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, which is scheduled for September 1. He insisted that if the government is serious about tackling corruption, an investigation and action against those involved in the alleged irregularities should be initiated.
He also called for the Chief Minister to demand the resignation of the Education Minister. Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar joined the protest, echoing the demand for Minister Sood’s resignation. He alleged that the bicycles intended for schoolgirls were overpriced, leading to a loss of government funds by purchasing bicycles that should have cost ₹4,000 for ₹7,000.
Kumar stated that if the bicycles had been bought at the correct price, the remaining funds could have benefited more students. He warned that if Minister Sood does not resign soon, AAP would intensify its protests in Delhi. He raised questions about Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s role, stating that if no action is taken against the minister despite the alleged scam, it would raise concerns about the government’s integrity. AAP has made it clear that it will not back down on this issue. The party plans to meet with the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday to demand an investigation into the alleged bicycle purchase scam, the filing of an FIR, and action against those responsible.
–
Leave a Comment