Poll-bound Gujarat seems to be warming up to the contest. With a major fight between the BJP and AAP in the offing, seems like legislators are all up for it.
Late Wednesday night, state education minister Jitu Vaghani tweeted against AAP’s education model in Delhi. Not one to take it lying down, AAP leader, Delhi Dy CM and education minister, Manish Sisodia, jumped into the fray. What followed was a recounting of the many misses by the BJP, especially when it comes to education.
In fact, Mr Sisodia has openly challenged Mr Vaghani to a debate. “The state is on a sore backfoot with an official shortage of 28,212 teachers and principals in government schools, paucity of 6,903 professors in colleges and a detraction of 18,000 classrooms. Nearly 6,000 government schools have shut down. How can one emulate the Gujarat model?” questioned the Delhi minister’s tweet.
However, the Gujarat unit of BJP targeted Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and quizzed: “Why are teachers on the road instead of schools? If Delhi’s education system is so good, why are guest teachers, vocational trainers and Anganwadi workers protesting against the government?”
Realising that the growing presence of AAP in Gujarat is irking the BJP, Mr Sisodia minced no words in writing: “Since yesterday, Gujarat BJP is tweeting against Delhi schools. The growing influence of AAP in Gujarat and the Punjab election results are making you angry. I challenge Gujarat education minister Jitu Vaghani for a debate. Your place and time.”
Notably, last Thursday, the state announced introduction of the Gita in school curriculum for students through classes 6 to 12. To which, Mr Sisodia had commented on “people with deeds like Ravana are talking about the Gita.”
