Former Delhi Education Minister Prof. Kiran Walia asked the government to immediately withdraw a circular dated June 13 that allegedly orders the School Management Committees to call the parents to propagate the achievements of the AAP government.
Ms.Walia said, “The School Management Committees have been asked to ensure that parents of schoolchildren promise to vote for AAP in the Assembly polls due next year.”
DoE to probe matter
However, the Director of the Directorate of Education (DoE) Binay Bhushan said the letter was “fake” and had been circulated to create mischief. He added that the DoE would investigate its origin.
Ms. Walia accused the AAP government of misusing the education system for garnering votes and called the move outrageous.
“The circular has clearly asked the schools to threaten the parents to vote for AAP. Students are being intimidated to ask their parents why they did not vote for Mr. Kejriwal in the recent Lok Sabha election through this circular,” she said.
Ms. Walia added that this was not the first time that AAP was using government schools as a platform to seek votes.
Mr. Kejriwal has used the platform of a Mega PTM ahead of the Lok Sabha election to make a political pitch, she added.
In the circular that has been circulated, Ms. Walia said besides seeking information about the number of voters in each family and their addresses, parents have also to be asked whether they are going to vote for Kejriwal or not.
“According to the letter, School Management Committees have further been asked to ensure from the parents that they should promise to vote for AAP in the coming Assembly elections here and not to ‘break this promise,” added Ms. Walia.
