Delhi Education Minister Targets AAP Over Lal School's 'Rapid Deterioration'
In a scathing critique of infrastructure quality, Delhi's Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday labeled the Lal School in Shahbad Dairy as the Aam Aadmi Party's 'Taj Mahal of corruption'. The minister made these pointed remarks during an extensive inspection tour that included multiple educational and sports facilities across the capital.
Inspection Reveals Alarming Infrastructure Issues
The minister's visit encompassed three key locations: the controversial Lal School in Shahbad Dairy, another under-construction school building in Sector-28 of Rohini, and the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium situated within the Bawana Assembly constituency. Sood expressed particular concern about the Lal School's condition, highlighting what he described as rapid deterioration of a structure built just five years ago in 2020.
'This is a clear case of corruption and negligence,' Sood declared, emphasizing that the building had become unsafe within an unusually short timeframe. The minister outlined plans to completely rebuild the institution as a safe, modern and high-quality educational facility that would properly serve students and staff.
Accountability and Political Exchange
Sood promised rigorous follow-up actions, stating: 'Strict action will be taken against the guilty officers and responsible persons involved in the construction of the school.' The minister's comments sparked immediate political controversy, with the AAP responding critically to what they perceived as political posturing.
The Aam Aadmi Party countered that instead of engaging in what they called a political stunt, the minister should focus on proper investigation procedures. 'The minister should have the matter investigated, fix responsibility and take action,' the party stated, suggesting a more systematic approach to addressing infrastructure concerns.
Broader Implications for Delhi's Educational Infrastructure
This incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding:
- Quality control in public school construction projects
- Accountability mechanisms for infrastructure deterioration
- Political dimensions of educational development in Delhi
- Timelines for addressing unsafe school buildings
The inspection comes amid broader discussions about educational infrastructure quality in the national capital, with multiple stakeholders watching how this particular case will be resolved and what precedents it might set for future school construction and maintenance projects across Delhi.
