New Delhi | October 2026: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia has expressed deep concern over the suicide of a stressed Class 12 student at a school in Krishna Nagar, questioning why the BJP government was taking political revenge against schoolchildren for its differences with the AAP.
Sisodia said that if the BJP government had not discontinued the Happiness Classes, the Class 12 student might have been able to cope with stress instead of taking her own life. The AAP government had introduced Happiness Classes to help schoolchildren manage stress and improve their mental well-being. The initiative received appreciation from across the world, and several international scholars were conducting research on it. Despite this, the BJP government discontinued the programme due to what he described as political narrow-mindedness.
Expressing grief over the student's death, Sisodia said he was deeply saddened by the news. He added that the loss of a young student in such circumstances raised serious questions for society.
“We introduced Happiness Classes in Delhi's government schools to help children become mentally and emotionally stronger,” Sisodia said.
He explained that students practised meditation daily, reflected on their thoughts and feelings, developed gratitude, and learned how to deal with difficult situations.
According to Sisodia, the impact of Happiness Classes was evident in children's ability to manage stress and in their relationships at school and home. The programme received recognition not only in India but also internationally, with several scholars studying its effectiveness.
However, he alleged that the BJP government discontinued the classes because of its narrow political outlook. He further claimed that government officials, school principals and teachers were threatened with being labelled AAP supporters if they even discussed the Happiness Classes.
Sisodia said a curriculum introduced to support children's mental health had been discontinued for political reasons.
“The BJP may have political differences with me and the Aam Aadmi Party, but why should children in Delhi be made to suffer for it?” he asked.
He emphasised that children's mental health was far more important than political rivalries and urged the government to prioritise their emotional and psychological well-being.
Meanwhile, AAP MLA from Kondli Kuldeep Kumar expressed concern over the condition of government schools since the BJP came to power in Delhi.
Kumar alleged that the situation in government schools was becoming increasingly worrying, citing incidents of violence against children, violent episodes on school premises and cases involving the deaths of young girls.
He questioned the level of safety provided to students in schools and called for greater accountability from the Delhi government.
Kumar said that during his tenure as Education Minister, Sisodia had introduced Happiness Classes in Delhi's government schools to promote positive thinking, self-confidence and mental resilience among students.
However, he alleged that the discontinuation of these classes had raised serious concerns about the government's commitment to children's mental health.
He further claimed that education, school safety and students' psychological well-being were no longer receiving adequate attention.
“The future of children cannot be left to fate,” Kumar said, demanding that the Delhi government explain the measures being taken to improve the quality of education, ensure student safety and strengthen mental health support in government schools.
The AAP leaders called on the Delhi government to address the concerns surrounding student safety and mental health, while emphasising the need for a supportive school environment where children can seek help and cope with emotional stress.
