Arvind Kejriwal’s Hypocrisy : Struggles of Dr Ambedkar University Delhi Scholars

By Justice Katju

Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP claim to represent inter alia the dalits, whose votes they will seek in the coming Delhi Assembly elections, But how shabbily they treat the memory of Baba sabeb Dr BR Ambedkar and the University founded in Delhi in his name can be seen from the example given below. 

While the AAP celebrates the legacy of Dr Ambedkar and the transformative power of education which he espoused, it has turned a Nelson’s eye to the issues faced by the state government’s prestigious Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) where Ph.D scholars are struggling for something as basic as regular disbursal of stipends – a necessity for survival for scholars.

Dr Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) offers two stipends for Ph.D. scholars: the ₹16,000 non-NET fellowship for all entrants and the AUD Merit Research Fellowship Scheme (AUDMRFS), equivalent to UGC-JRF, for top-ranked candidates. While AUDMRFS was introduced in 2020–21, its implementation was delayed until 2022, and the current batch of scholars is yet to benefit, with no notifications issued for the 2024 session.
Despite fulfilling coursework obligations, Ph.D scholars have faced severe delays in non-NET stipend disbursals. Payments for August to October 2024 were received after persistent follow-ups and emails to the administration, but stipends for May to July and post-November still remains unpaid to a substantial number of Ph.D scholars, which has driven them to the verge of starvation. 

Living in Delhi, with high rents and no hostel facilities, exacerbates the Ph. D scholars’ struggles, forcing many to compromise their research by taking up part-time work. Although AUD receives funding from both the Delhi State Government and the UGC, these irregularities highlight significant administrative lapses.
Grand announcements of schemes by the AAP have no meaning when implementation fails to match promises. In fact this reveals the sheer hypocrisy of AAP and it’s leader Kejriwal. 

The Delhi AAP. government has no shortage of funds, but keeps the Ph.D scholars starving, and on the brink of committing suicide. 

Therefore before announcing big schemes of making education free, AAP should look at home at their University AUD and make sure the already existent schemes are really implemented and are not just meaningless promises on paper.