BJP accuses AAP government of not giving money for NDMC schools

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The BJP on Wednesday accused Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party of not providing enough money for the education of students at schools run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).

The BJP alleged that the AAP government kept 23.51 per cent of its total budget for 1,034 Delhi government schools while the BJP-ruled NDMC which has 743 schools, got only 1.46 per cent of the budget for education.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said that students from municipal schools go to Delhi government schools for secondary education.

"You will be surprised to know that the Delhi government is keeping 23.51 per cent of the total budget for its 1,034 schools and the NDMC is given only 1.46 per cent of the budget to run 743 schools," he said.

Tiwari criticised Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia for his government's education policies.

"Why the government and NDMC-run schools are treated differently? After Class 5, these students will go to the Delhi government schools. Are these children not our future?" Tiwari said.

He said the AAP government is mistreating the NDMC school students as the people elected the BJP in the MCD elections.

Tiwari said that the Delhi government was not able to utilise the funds allocated for its schools and the money lapsed, "but they are not allocating more money for the MCD schools."

Responding to Tiwari, AAP MLA and spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj told IANS that Tiwari had said that he would get funds for the MCDs directly from the Centre. "Why is he questioning the Delhi government? His party is at the Centre. He is an MP from Delhi."

The municipal corporations in Delhi are autonomous bodies but they get funds from the city government. The AAP government had been demanding separate funds from the BJP-ruled Centre for the local bodies.