BJP against good, affordable education; CBSE fee hike burdened 6 lakh families: Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday accused BJP of being against "good and affordable" education and demanded an explanation from it over hike in CBSE examination fees that "burdened six lakh families" in city.

Sisodia's remarks came hours after BJP accused Aam Ami Party of taking credit for work "done by someone else".  

Both parties exchanged fresh allegations ahe of upcoming assembly elections. 

Talking to reporters, Sisodia claimed that Delhi BJP leers asked Centre to increase Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam fees after AAP government decided to pay fees of students.

CBSE in August increased fees for classes 10 and 12 board exams by up to Rs 1,150, first hike in five years.

Sisodia, who also holds portfolio of education minister, alleged that BJP is against affordable and quality education.

While Delhi government is still committed to bear full fees for government school students, this move by BJP has imposed a huge financial burden on private school students in Delhi, he said.

"se families are t going to forgive BJP," he said.

"By increasing fees, BJP has put burden on Delhi's six lakh families. This shows that BJP is against education," he said.

"BJP is a political party which is entirely against any education reform. Today, question I want to ask BJP leers why y are against affordable education model of AAP government? I also want to ask why is BJP is opposed to idea of affordable and quality education across India?" Sisodia said.

Sisodia said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has anunced that Delhi government will pay full CBSE examination fees of all classes 10 and 12 students of government schools.

"This fee was Rs 450 for General and Rs 125 for SC/SC," he said.

In Delhi, nearly 44 lakh students are studying in CBSE-affiliated schools of which around 6 lakh are in classes 10 and 12, Sisodia said.

He said his government's decision to pay CBSE exam fees was benefitting more than 3.5 lakh students in government schools.

" BJP thought that this decision will affect ir politics, refore, Delhi BJP leers immediately approached ir national leers to ask CBSE to increase its fees. reafter on August 2, 2019, CBSE anunced a steep hike in Examination Fee for classes X & XII for Examination to Rs 1,950 for General and Rs 1,650 for SC/ST," Sisodia said.

He said this decision has also affected families of private school students and four-fold hike of fees shows that " BJP is against very idea of affordable education system".

"This also shows that BJP opposes any kind of education development and quality education model in Delhi. If y have increased fees marginally n it would have been understandable but this four-fold hike was a criminal offence with families of students of Delhi," he said.