New Delhi – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders on Wednesday led a vigorous demonstration outside the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence in East Delhi's IP Extension, protesting the BJP-led Delhi government's decision to rename the institution as a 'CM Shri' school. The protesters, numbering in the hundreds, affixed a large banner bearing the name "Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar" over the altered signage, vowing to restore the original name in honor of the Dalit icon and architect of India's Constitution.

The protest, held on Constitution Day (November 26), was spearheaded by AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar from Kondli, who addressed the gathering and labeled the renaming as a "direct insult to the Dalit community." Kumar accused the BJP of systematically erasing Ambedkar's legacy, citing past incidents such as the removal of Ambedkar's portrait from government offices and alleged disrespectful remarks by BJP leaders.

"This is the same government and Chief Minister who removed Babasaheb's picture immediately after forming the government," Kumar stated during the event, as captured in video footage from the protest site. He further warned that the AAP and Ambedkar's followers would not tolerate such actions, declaring, "We will change the board as many times as they do, and if they persist, we will change the government."

The demonstration was a part of a broader AAP campaign announced earlier in November, targeting multiple schools across Delhi where nameplates have reportedly been changed to 'CM Shri' – a scheme under the central government's Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Schools of Excellence. AAP leaders claim at least 31 such institutions, originally upgraded and renamed under their administration, have been affected. Protesters chanted slogans against the BJP, accusing it of harboring an "anti-Ambedkar mindset" rooted in RSS ideology, and demanded an immediate rollback of the changes.

Background: AAP's Ambedkar Schools Initiative

The Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence (ASoSE) represent a flagship education reform under the AAP government, aimed at transforming under-resourced government schools into world-class institutions offering International Baccalaureate (IB)-affiliated curricula focused on 21st-century skills like critical thinking, arts, and STEM. Launched as part of AAP's broader education overhaul since 2015, the initiative began with upgrading existing Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (state talent development schools) and constructing new facilities to bridge the gap between public and private education.

A pivotal moment came on April 15, 2022, when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all 31 Schools of Specialised Excellence would be renamed after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to pay tribute to his lifelong advocacy for education as a tool for social emancipation, particularly for marginalized communities. This renaming was part of AAP's commitment to equity, with the schools providing free education, modern infrastructure, and specialized streams in humanities, sciences, and vocational training. By 2023-2024, several ASoSE facilities, including those in East Delhi, had been inaugurated or fully operationalized under AAP's tenure, with Education Minister Atishi overseeing multiple openings to expand access for over 10,000 students annually.

The IP Extension school, located in the I.P. Extension area of East Delhi, was established as one of these upgraded Ambedkar SoSE institutions during AAP's governance, emphasizing specialized excellence in line with the 2022 renaming directive. AAP has credited the program with driving enrollment surges and improved learning outcomes, positioning it as a cornerstone of their decade-long education revolution in the capital.

The BJP-led Delhi government, which assumed power earlier in 2025 following the AAP's ouster, has defended the 'CM Shri' rebranding as an integration into a national excellence framework to enhance funding and standards, denying any intent to dishonor Ambedkar. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva countered AAP's allegations, stating that the party was invoking Ambedkar's name merely for "political survival" and challenging them to list tangible achievements from their 10-year rule beyond renaming. Party's general secretary Yogendra Chandolia said it was “pathetic” that AAP leaders invoke Ambedkar’s name for political gain.