Row Erupts Over Painting 852 Punjab Schools in Blue and Yellow; Opposition Claims Political Motive

Chandigarh, Jan 31: A controversy has erupted in Punjab over the state government’s plan to paint 852 government schools in blue and yellow. Opposition parties, particularly the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have alleged that the colors mirror the flag of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing the government of politicizing school infrastructure.

The order to repaint the schools was issued by the Punjab government on December 22. The first phase of the project covers schools across 23 districts, with a total budget allocation of ₹17.44 crore. According to officials, 102 schools in Sangrur, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s home district, will be repainted, along with 37 schools in Ropar, 84 in Amritsar, and 70 in Ludhiana.

Opposition Criticism:
SAD leader Giani Harpreet Singh criticized the move, calling it “shameful” and a serious threat to the education system. “Government schools belong to the state, not to any one political party,” he said, demanding that the order be immediately withdrawn.

AAP Response:
AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang responded by stating that every color has been historically associated with political parties, but that does not necessarily mean politics influenced this decision. “Red represents communists, saffron represents BJP, and blue has historically been linked to the Shiromani Akali Dal. Yellow and blue have always been among the preferred colors for government buildings,” he said.

Education Department Clarification:
Arvind Kumar MK, Director General of School Education, clarified that there was no political motive behind the selection of colors. “The repainting is being carried out only in schools that have not been painted in five years or more. The project is entirely funded by the state budget, and the color selection follows departmental preferences rather than any political agenda,” he said.

The controversy has sparked a wider debate over the use of public institutions for perceived political messaging, with officials emphasizing that the repainting exercise is part of regular maintenance and infrastructure development across government schools.