New Delhi, January 5, 2026:
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Monday delivered a strong and wide-ranging intervention in the Delhi Legislative Assembly while participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address. He said the address was not a mere compilation of schemes but a clear reflection of the government’s governance intent under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
LG’s Address Reflects Governance Intent, Not Just Schemes
Thanking the Speaker for the opportunity to speak, Sood said the Lieutenant Governor’s address demonstrated firm political will and a calibrated, delivery-oriented approach to governance. He asserted that under the Chief Minister’s leadership, ministers, legislators, and the bureaucracy are working together on a war footing to bring visible transformation in Delhi through honest and decisive administration.
Attack on Opposition Over Unfulfilled Promises
Departing briefly from the address, the Education Minister launched a sharp critique of the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of abandoning its own promises. He recalled the party’s earlier 70-point agenda, which included commitments such as creating two lakh jobs and improving last-mile connectivity, and said it later vanished without explanation. He also referred to the subsequent 10-point agenda that promised pollution control, large-scale tree plantation, and cleaning of the Yamuna river, questioning the opposition’s credibility in raising concerns after more than a decade in power.
Sood alleged that the opposition was now questioning the government’s performance within ten months, despite having failed to deliver on similar assurances over eleven years. He also rejected claims that the Lieutenant Governor’s address was externally drafted, stating that previous governments had followed the same constitutional process.
Delivery-Oriented Governance in Eleven Months
Returning to the main subject, Sood described the Lieutenant Governor’s address as a document focused on outcomes. He said that within eleven months, the government had undertaken major reforms in process simplification, approval timelines, and administrative responsiveness. He highlighted steps taken to improve ease of doing business, including reforms in police licensing and other regulatory processes.
Focus on Slums and Dignity of Residents
Contrasting the current administration with its predecessor, the Minister alleged that earlier governments used JJ clusters and slums largely for political optics. He cited official records to claim that funds allocated for slum welfare had lapsed in the past without being utilised. Under the present government, he said, work had begun in slums and budgets had been approved for the construction of toilet facilities to ensure dignity and basic amenities for residents, particularly women.
Atal Canteens and Welfare Outreach
Addressing criticism of the Atal Canteen initiative, Sood said the programme had delivered tangible results. He shared data showing that between 25 December 2025 and 8 January 2026, a total of 3,76,779 people had accessed meals at Atal Canteens across Delhi. He maintained that the government would continue focusing on service delivery rather than responding to allegations.
Reforms in Education and Civic Administration
The Education Minister said the government had taken responsibility for the welfare of nearly 18 lakh students enrolled in Delhi government schools, focusing on their mental, financial, and emotional well-being. He contrasted the present situation with conditions eleven months earlier, when sanitation workers were on strike, garbage piled up on streets, and teachers and non-teaching staff of several colleges went unpaid for months.
Sood said these processes had now been set right, with the government ensuring timely funding and coordination with civic bodies. He noted that for the first time in over a decade, funds had been released for repairs and maintenance of college buildings, describing this as a restoration of institutional rights rather than a favour.
Power, Higher Education, and Infrastructure Push
Referring to announcements in the Lieutenant Governor’s address, Sood said the government had made significant progress in higher education initiatives, including the EduCity project. He also highlighted a four-year power master plan worth ₹17,000 crore, aimed at strengthening Delhi’s electricity distribution network across all constituencies.
Praise for Chief Minister’s Decisive Leadership
Concluding his remarks, the Education Minister praised Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership, citing her decisive actions, including the suspension of corrupt officials, as evidence of a commitment to the rule of law. He criticised the opposition for allegedly siding with corrupt elements and said the people of Delhi would judge governance by results rather than rhetoric.
Thanking the Speaker once again, Sood said the Lieutenant Governor’s address captured the achievements of the government over the past eleven months and reflected a clear vision for Delhi’s future under the present administration.
