Yadav slams BJP’s education promises as ‘empty rhetoric’

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Devender Yadav has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) recent promises of free education for the poor, calling them “empty rhetoric” and accusing the party of damaging students’ futures over the past decade.

Yadav’s remarks were in response to the BJP’s manifesto for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, in which the party pledged free education from kindergarten to post-graduation in government institutions, financial assistance for competitive exams, and a scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students.

He claimed the BJP’s promises were as hollow as their past ones, urging the party to rename their resolution letter as “Jumla Patra.” Yadav also accused the BJP of misleading the public with false promises aimed solely at garnering votes.

“The BJP has ruined the future of students over the past 11 years. Now, they promise Rs 15,000 for competitive exam preparation and a Rs 1,000 pension for Dalit students in the name of Dr. Ambedkar. These are just election gimmicks,” Yadav said. He also alleged that BJP-ruled states had been involved in recruitment scams that negatively impacted youth from disadvantaged families.

Yadav further criticised the BJP for commercialising education, making it unaffordable for Dalit students, and dismissed the latest promises as an “election farce.” He questioned the Modi government’s decisions regarding education, particularly the discontinuation of the ‘National Incentive Scheme for Secondary Education,’ which previously provided scholarships to SC and ST girls to prevent them from dropping out after the 8th standard.

He also raised concerns over the halting of pre-matric scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students.

“Why should the people of Delhi trust the BJP, which has consistently oppressed marginalized sections of society during its ten years in power at the Centre?” Yadav asked.

He also targeted the BJP’s stance on street vendors, accusing the party of pushing them out of business while now seeking their votes.