Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday got into a Twitter debate about the educational policies implemented in their respective states, news agency ANI reported.
Reacting to a news report that the Assam government had opted to shut down 34 schools due to poor performance, a debate broke out. Kejriwal insisted that closing the schools is not the answer.
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, “Closing schools is not the solution. We need to open many new schools across the country. Instead of closing the schools, improve the school and give better education.”
Sarma, the Assam Chief Minister and a prominent member of the BJP, angrily responded to the tweet, saying that Kejriwal had neglected his “homework” before replying. He also asked about the number of new schools built by the Delhi administration under the leadership of Kejriwal.
“Dear @ArvindKejriwal ji. – As always you commented on something without any homework! Please note, since my days as Education Minister, the Government of Assam has established/acquired 8610 new schools; break down How many new schools has the Delhi government started in the last 7 years? Sarma replied.
Sarma also listed the numbers related to the schools that the Assam government had taken over.
“Provincialization or taking over of private schools since 2013: primary 6802; Secondary 1589 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: 81 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Civil School: 3 Model School: 38 Tea Garden Model School: 97 Curious to know the Delhi figures!,” Sarma said.
AAP leader Kejriwal then said that he did not intend to draw attention to the “flaws” in the Assam educational model and advised Sarma to showcase the positive work being done in the field of education. Kejriwal said Sarma can see what work his administration has done.
“Oh oh. Looks like you did wrong. I didn’t mean to highlight your flaws. We are all one country. We have to learn from each other. Only then will India become the number one country. I will come to Assam. Tell me when will I come.” Can you? You show your good work in the field of education. You come to Delhi, I will show you the work that I have done in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
Sarma, on the other hand, tried to argue that the conditions in the two states were very different.
“Dear @ArvindKejriwal ji, your ignorance is painful. let me help you. Assam is 50 times bigger than Delhi! Our 44,521 government schools teach 65 lakh students as against your 1000+ odd schools. Our army of dedicated teachers number 2+ lakhs; Mid-day meal workers 1.18 lakh. Guess what?” he said.
He said that Assam faced dire problems like floods and insurgency while providing high quality education. He encouraged the Chief Minister of Delhi to visit Assam and see the difficulties firsthand.
“Unlike Delhi, we manage flood outbreaks, deal with insurgency, negotiate hilly and difficult terrain – and still provide high quality education. We are wonderful hosts. please come; Spend 2 nights in our river area and hill districts. See what challenges we face. You will stop giving lectures,” Sarma tweeted.
The tweets of both the Chief Ministers quickly went viral. In recent times, BJP and AAP have been criticizing each other on various subjects. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s investigation by the CBI has escalated the controversy.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia has been asked to appear before a Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Assam’s Kamrup district on September 29, in connection with a defamation suit.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma prosecuted Sisodia.
During a press conference a few months ago, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader claimed that the Assam government had agreed with Sarma’s wife’s company and son to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) kits at market rates during the Covid-19 pandemic. The contract was awarded to a business partner. pandemic in 2020. Sarma had denied the claims and filed a defamation suit against Sisodia.
(with inputs from ANI)
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