Manish Sisodia’s visit to Punjab schools irks teachers’ union: ‘an interference in state’s affairs’

Accompanied by Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, Sisodia inspected the School of Eminence in Tarn Taran and attended a seminar for primary teachers at Government Elementary School in Noordi. Later, he visited Government Middle School in Noordi, Government High School in Daleke, Government Elementary School and Middle School in Walipur in the border district Tarn Taran.

Tarn Taran District Education Officer (DEO) Rajesh Kumar said that he had no prior information about Sisodia’s visit and that he wasn’t present when both AAP leaders visited. “I was busy with my exam duty. Some teachers informed me that Sisodia and Bains had inspected a few schools, though I was not present,” the DEO said.

Sisodia, who lost the recent Delhi Assembly election from the Jangpura seat to BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwa, is credited by his party for ushering in “an education revolution” in Delhi.

Calling Sisodia’s visit to Punjab schools a “gross interference in the state’s affairs”, the DTF said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government “is acting as the junior partner to the party’s Delhi leadership”.

“Sisodia and Bains have been visiting government schools in Punjab for the past three days but local education department officials don’t have information about it. Earlier, Sisodia had visited Mohali and Gurdaspur schools. He (Sisodia) passed instructions to teachers, interfering directly in the state’s affairs. The ruling AAP is pushing Delhi’s failed education model in Punjab which won’t be allowed at any cost. Punjab has its own identity, culturally and socially. We will not allow any interference by AAP’s Delhi leadership in the schools of Punjab. They have lost in Delhi and now they will try to push their agenda in Punjab through the school education system,” DTF state president Vikram Dev said.

“It is a matter of concern that despite having its own elected government, politicians from other states are trying to interfere in our state. Punjab has a unique identity, which is also reflected in its schools through language and other aspects. Politicians from other states cannot push their failed so-called Delhi model of education in our state,” DTF general secretary Mohinder Singh Kaurianwala said.

Despite repeated attempts, Bains and Sisodia could not be reached for comments.

Dapinder Singh, OSD to Bains, said, “I do not have full details of Sisodia’s visit but he had come. He has returned to Delhi.”

On February 11, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had summoned a meeting of the party’s Punjab leadership, including CM Mann, Cabinet members, MPs and MLAs, after the AAP’s loss in the Delhi polls. Kejriwal met legislators from Punjab and put speculation about a change in guard in Punjab to rest asserting that Bhagwant Mann would continue as the CM, sources in the party said.

After the meeting, Mann said there was no truth to reports about a rift within the party.