AAP govt ‘anti-Dalit’, alleges Partap Singh Bajwa

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday accused the state government of being “anti-Dalit” and sought clarification from it on the delay in clearing applications under a Centre-sponsored scholarship plan for the Scheduled Castes students.

Implemented by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for the Scheduled Castes (SC) aims at increasing their enrolment in government schools.

Accusing the Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of adopting a “negligent approach”, the Congress leader said the parliamentary Standing Committee on Social justice and Empowerment too had expressed concern over it.

He said the committee had highlighted the delay in release of funds by the state government.

According to a committee report on the demand for grants for 2024-25, 18,243 applications were pending with the state government.

“The AAP government in Punjab has been clearly playing with the future of Dalit student. Its anti-Dalit face has been unmasked once again. Could it explain why it has failed to swiftly clear pending applications,” said Bajwa.