‘Shoot and scoot politics’: Delhi Minister slams AAP claims on textbook printing
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood rejected AAP accusations that the Class 8 Hindi textbook ‘Malhar’ was printed on substandard paper and delayed in distribution, labeling the claims as political theatrics. The government said the procurement complied with tender specifications and offered lower unit costs than the previous administration.
- ✓Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood rejected AAP accusations that the Class 8 Hindi textbook ‘Malhar’ was printed on substandard paper and delayed in distribution, labeling the claims as political theatrics.
- ✓He further alleged a 40 % commission embedded in the government‑printed books and urged a laboratory test to verify the paper’s gsm.
- ✓The government said the procurement complied with tender specifications and offered lower unit costs than the previous administration.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday dismissed allegations raised by AAP leaders that the newly printed Class 8 Hindi textbook ‘Malhar’ used inferior paper and violated tender norms, calling the accusations a form of "shoot and scoot" politics. The dispute centres on the Delhi government’s procurement of textbooks for state‑run schools, which the opposition claims do not meet the stipulated quality standards.
Sood highlighted that the textbooks were purchased at Rs 28.61 per copy, considerably lower than the Rs 55 price paid for a comparable book, ‘Griha Vigyan’, under the former AAP government in 2022. The tender required books of 17.1 cm × 24.1 cm printed on 80 gsm paper, whereas AAP officials alleged the delivered copies used 60 gsm paper and featured smaller print. The minister also referenced letters dated 17 August 2023 to show that the current price ceiling for textbooks is Rs 51, contrasting it with the AAP era where prices reportedly rose to Rs 110 for Class 8, Rs 103 for Class 7 and Rs 133 for Class 6 books.
The controversy erupted after AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the textbooks arrived late after the summer break, bore a reduced size, and included a photograph of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on the first page. He further alleged a 40 % commission embedded in the government‑printed books and urged a laboratory test to verify the paper’s gsm. The dispute affects thousands of schoolchildren in Delhi, with both parties accusing each other of either compromising educational quality or exploiting the issue for political gain.
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| Issuing Authority | Delhi NCR Civic & Governance |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | EDUCATION |
| Jurisdiction | DL State |
| Publication Date | 24 October 2026 |