New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its allegations of irregularities in the procurement of bicycles for schoolgirls, saying the opposition’s changing figures on the alleged scam showed that the charges were “baseless”.
Addressing a press conference, Sood said the bicycle procurement was carried out through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) following prescribed procedures and that the tender was awarded to the lowest eligible bidder.
His remarks came after more than 3,000 schoolgirls received bicycles under the Delhi government’s bicycle distribution scheme.
The minister also accused the AAP of creating a “false narrative” over the procurement and said its alleged
percentage figures had changed several times in recent days.
“Today, everything is transparently available on GeM. Education Department officials followed all codal formalities,” Sood said, according to a statement.
He said the GeM portal has mechanisms to reject tenders containing restrictive clauses and claimed that no vendor or party had lodged a complaint during the bidding process.
Sood also criticised the AAP over its response to the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, saying its leaders had earlier questioned when women would receive the promised Rs 2,500 monthly assistance but were now avoiding discussions after the scheme was implemented.
The minister also highlighted the DUSIB Amendment Bill 2026, saying the cutoff date for eligibility of slum dwellers had been extended by 19 years, from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2025.
He said the government had also provided for in-situ rehabilitation or relocation within a 2.5 to 3-km radius to minimise disruption to residents’ livelihoods and children’s education.
Sood further referred to the Delhi Fire Service Amendment Bill 2026, the Delhi Right of Citizen to Time-Bound Service Delivery Bill 2026 and the Delhi Bed and Breakfast Establishment Repeal Bill 2026 as key legislative measures passed during the Assembly session.
According to the minister, 53 public issues relating to water, roads, electricity and sewage were discussed in the Assembly out of 106 Rule 280 notices.
Sood said that the Rekha Gupta-led government had implemented more than 160 major policy interventions in its first 16-17 months in office and accused the AAP of failing to perform its role as an opposition. PTI SHB MPL MPL
