The ruling BJP in Gujarat has found itself cornered with the opposition Congress and new entrant to the political space in the state Aam Aadmi Party targetting it over the quality of education in Gujarat and the recent remarks by Education Minister Jitubhai Vaghani.
After inaugurating a new building for a government school in Rajkot, Vaghani, who is also government spokesperson, said those who have problem with the state’s education system may leave Gujarat. He went on to say that people who do not like the education system in the state should move their families to another state.
Vaghani was apparently unhappy over a challenge posed by AAP leader and New Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to him on the subject of education. Sisodia recently had compared the work done in the field of education by AAP in New Delhi with that of what has been done by Gujarat.
Sisodia’s remarks that came after party’s electoral victory in Punjab did not go well with the BJP that has been ruling Gujarat for over 25 years.
While former state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia reacted saying Gujarat is nobody’s ancestral property, the controversy has shown no signs of dying down.
Sisodia, on Thursday, took to social media and said there is no need for people to go away from Gujarat. The AAP will form government in Gujarat and will reproduce the work done in Delhi, he said.
Gujarat goes to polls by the year end and AAP has decided to contest on all the 182 assembly seats.
The Congress has been highlighting the sorry state of affairs in government education system, pointing out that a large number of government schools have been closed down. Both the Congress and the AAP have been criticising the Gujarat government for allegedly helping private schools.
Vaghani’s statement has come as an embarrassment for the party which is already facing criticism over the below par education system in the state. The party hasn’t issued a statement in response to the allegations made by the opponents.
Sources said Vaghani may have been pulled up by the BJP leadership.
State BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas refused to comment on the issue.