CHANDIGARH: Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has strongly condemned the blatant misuse of public funds by the AAP government in Punjab to promote Kejriwal and Sisodia — two political discards of Delhi — in the state.
Taking strong exception to the so-called “Sikhya Kranti” programme, Chugh said that if media reports are to be believed, a deeply troubling scandal is unfolding, with over ₹20 crore being spent on inauguration plaques featuring Kejriwal and Sisodia, and on ceremonies across more than 10, 000 schools for already completed or minor renovation works.
Chugh stated, “It is shocking and shameful that instead of focusing on meaningful improvements to Punjab’s crumbling education infrastructure, the AAP government is indulging in self-glorification and publicity stunts. Installing over 25, 000 plaques — sometimes four in a single school — bearing the names of the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and AAP MLAs, is nothing but an exercise in political vanity funded by taxpayer money.”
Spending ₹5, 000 per plaque — money that could have been used for teaching aids or basic school infrastructure — is a gross misuse of public resources. Teachers and students have rightly questioned the logic and necessity of such expenditures when essential facilities are still lacking.
Chugh said the entire drive is nothing short of a “name-plate scam, ” designed to promote AAP leaders who have been on bail, rather than serve the interests of Punjab’s children.
He further demanded a high-level audit and investigation into the ₹20 crore spent on plaques and called for an immediate halt to the installation spree.
Chugh also demanded an apology from CM Bhagwant Mann and Education Minister Harjot Bains for misusing public funds. He urged the authorities to redirect these funds toward actual educational development — such as providing books, building classrooms, and ensuring functional toilets.
“This is an exercise in waste, ” Chugh said, adding that full accountability must be sought from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Tarun Chugh also strongly condemned the inclusion of Manish Sisodia’s name — a jailed and rejected leader from Delhi — on foundation stones in Punjab. One such foundation stone, laid by CM Bhagwant Mann for school and college infrastructure works, includes Sisodia’s name despite him holding no constitutional post and having no connection to Punjab.
Chugh questioned, “Bhagwant Mann must clarify what right Manish Sisodia has to have his name on a foundation stone in Punjab. He’s neither from Punjab nor does he hold any constitutional office. On the contrary, he’s a rejected leader from Delhi. His so-called education model has already been dismissed by the people of Delhi. And let us not forget — he is a jailed leader. Punjab does not need to follow failed role models like Sisodia.”
Chugh called this an insult to the people of Punjab and demanded that all such plaques and foundation stones be reviewed and removed wherever unconstitutional or irrelevant names are featured.