New Delhi:
The AAP on Tuesday accused the BJP government of stopping the issue of the economically weak section (EWS) certificate, affecting the access to education and healthcare for eligible families.
The BJP dismissed the charge, making it clear that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has called for preparation of appropriate guidelines to prevent misuse of convenience only.
Citing the minutes of an official meeting, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi Unit chief Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that the government has decided to issue new certificates.
He said, “The government will examine the EWS certificates issued so far, in which there is a possibility that EWS certificates have been issued to a large number of disqualified people. No new EWS certificate will be issued by the Revenue Department till further orders,” he said.
The former Delhi minister said that this decision will immediately affect students applying in institutions such as Delhi University and Indraprastha University, where 10 percent quota requires EWS certificates.
He also expressed concern about patients refusing hospital beds and services reserved for the EWS category.
Mr. Bhardwaj alleged that the move would deprive access to education, healthcare and job opportunities under the EWS category and called it a “deliberate attempt” to benefit private institutions.
Claiming that thousands of students and job candidates could be affected by the “ban” in issuing EWS certificate, the AAP leader said, “This government is completely anti-poor.” Targeting Chief Minister Gupta, he questioned the argument behind “punishing the public” instead of allegedly taking action against the officials responsible for issuing certificates to unqualified persons.
“How many officers have he suspended? If the certificates were issued incorrectly, why has any sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Additional District Magistrate (ADM) or District Magistrate (DM) have not faced action?” Mr. Bhardwaj asked
The AAP leader also accused the BJP of trying to avoid accountability, which he tried to mold private institutions and benefit them by curbing EWS access.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva dismissed the claims, saying that the EWS certificate has not been issued.
He clarified that the Chief Minister has only called for the construction of appropriate guidelines to prevent misuse of the certificate. The economically weaker sections will benefit, Mr. Sachdeva said.
He accused the AAP of spreading misinformation to avoid investigating alleged irregularities during his rule.
The BJP leader claimed that fake EWS and caste certificates were issued between 2015 and 2024 under pressure from AAP leaders, resulting in their misuse and hospital facilities and other government benefits in school entry, the BJP leader claimed.
“People of Delhi understand why Saurabh Bhardwaj is creating controversy. He is afraid that an investigation will highlight a large -scale scam,” said Mr. Sachdeva.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
