AAP Alleges Corruption in Delhi Vidya Vahini Bicycle Scheme
New Delhi — The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday alleged widespread irregularities in the Delhi government's Vidya Vahini bicycle distribution scheme aimed at Class 9 girl students in the capital. AAP leaders warned that they would approach the Anti-Corruption Branch or the Central Bureau of Investigation if Chief Minister Rekha Gupta does not immediately intervene and take action on the matter.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the bicycles currently being distributed under the Vidya Vahini scheme fail to match the quality standards promised in the official tender. Bharadwaj claimed that the supplied bicycles are equipped with plastic brake components, loose rims, and various other structural defects.
Raising questions about the tender specifications, Bharadwaj pointed out that the tender originally named 'Skyline' brand bicycles. However, he claimed that the 'Skyline' model was discontinued last year and is no longer available in the market. Instead, the bicycles being handed out to students are of a different brand named 'Ilfit'. Bharadwaj questioned the discrepancy between the tender specifications and the actual items supplied.
Supporting the demand for an inquiry, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha stated that the government must look into these allegations and initiate appropriate action. Jha reiterated that if the issue remains unaddressed, the party will formally lodge a complaint with either the Anti-Corruption Branch or the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Bharadwaj further stated that he is prepared to present all supporting documents to substantiate the allegations and urged the government to verify them. He also offered to bring both models of bicycles directly before Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood to demonstrate the physical differences in specifications and build quality.
The allegations come a day after Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood defended the procurement process in the Assembly on Tuesday. Sood rejected the opposition's claims, stating that the bicycles under the Vidya Vahini scheme were procured in a fully transparent manner through the GeM portal.
Dismissing the allegations made by AAP legislators as "noise" intended to demonstrate loyalty to party leader Arvind Kejriwal, the minister compared the situation to a movie character. Sood referenced the character Hamza Ali Mazari, played by Ranveer Singh in the film Dhurandhar, stating that discussions surrounding cycles, rice, and medicines were merely an effort by AAP members to cover up their failures and prove allegiance to their leadership.
