Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has levelled sharp allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, claiming that the capital's education system has once again fallen under the influence of what he termed the "education mafia."
His remarks came amid widespread protests by parents over a reported hike in private school fees across Delhi.
In a post on social media platform X, Kejriwal expressed his disappointment over the situation and said that the residents of Delhi were once again helpless in front of the private school lobby.
He accused the current leadership of siding with powerful school owners, similar to what he claims was the scenario before the AAP government took charge of education reforms in the city.
Kejriwal questioned how private institutions were confidently increasing fees without fear of consequences and accused the BJP government of being hand in glove with the school managements. According to him, this alliance has emboldened private players to act without any accountability.
Joining Kejriwal in the attack, AAP’s Delhi unit chief and minister Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the ruling party for ignoring the concerns of thousands of parents.
He said that instead of addressing the ongoing protests outside private schools, BJP leaders were indulging in what he described as a “show-off” of visiting government schools for optics.
He alleged that the ministers are deliberately avoiding any confrontation with private school managements due to their close ties.
Highlighting the emotional and physical distress of parents, Bharadwaj narrated the incident of a woman who reportedly fainted while protesting outside a reputed private school.
He added that BJP leaders, instead of showing empathy or responding to such incidents, continued their political routines and school visits for publicity. According to him, the government’s silence in the face of rising parental anger suggests a lack of will to stand up against influential private institutions.
Atishi, leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly and a senior AAP figure, also raised serious concerns about the alleged fee hike. She claimed that private schools were openly stating their intention to raise fees by at least 10 per cent annually without any fear of audit or regulatory action.
Atishi said this confidence among schools hinted at a tacit approval from the BJP administration.
Videos of aggrieved parents staging protests at school gates have been widely shared on social media platforms, further drawing attention to the growing unrest.
The fee hikes, which reportedly came without proper justification or transparency, have left many families worried about the affordability of education.
Kejriwal's remarks and the protests point to a larger debate around private schooling, regulation, and the role of the government in ensuring fair practices.
AAP leaders continue to claim that their government had brought in reforms to curb arbitrary fee hikes and increase transparency in school administration, efforts which they now allege are being undone.
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