Kejriwal challenges BJP to compare 1,000 govt schools of Gujarat, Punjab

New Delhi, Aug 25 (AHN) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to compare 1,000 government schools in Gujarat, where the party has been in power for more than three decades, with 1,000 schools in Punjab, where the AAP has been in power for around four-and-a-half years.

In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote: "My challenge to BJP."

Sharing a video message, Kejriwal accused the BJP of attempting to defame government schools in Punjab and invited the party to conduct a joint inspection.

"Nowadays, BJP leaders are trying to defame the schools of Punjab. I challenge the BJP. You have been in power in Gujarat for 30 years, while our government has been in Punjab for around four-and-a-half years," he said.

"I will give you a list of 1,000 schools in Punjab. You give me a list of 1,000 schools in Gujarat. You come, and we will also come. First, inspect the schools of Punjab and then inspect the schools in Gujarat," Kejriwal added.

He said the inspection could be carried out in the presence of the media and BJP representatives so that the country could see the condition of government schools in both states.

"We will take the media along, and BJP leaders can also come. They have not improved the condition of schools in their states, but instead, they have started defaming the schools of Punjab," he alleged.

Kejriwal claimed that the AAP government had transformed Punjab's government schools in just four-and-a-half years.

"There are around 19,700 schools in Punjab. Work has been completed in around 19,200 schools, while work is still underway in about 500 schools. Those schools will also be improved over the next one-and-a-half years," he said.

The AAP chief further claimed that Punjab had reached the top position in the field of government school education, citing an assessment by the Central government's NITI Aayog.

"Punjab is now in the number one position in the case of government schools. We are not saying this; NITI Aayog is saying it. We have even moved ahead of Kerala," he asserted.

Kejriwal said Punjab was ranked 27th when the AAP came to power in the state and had risen to the top position in just four years.

He also dismissed videos purportedly showing poor conditions in Punjab schools, claiming that some of the footage being circulated was old.

"They are showing videos from 2018, when the schools were not in good condition. We were not in government at that time; the Congress was in power," he said.

Referring to an incident involving Akali Dal leader Rattan Singh Dhillon, Kejriwal said the Punjab government was willing to address shortcomings highlighted by citizens and political opponents.

He claimed that after Dhillon raised concerns about a school on social media, the Education Minister contacted him, reviewed the matter and sanctioned a grant for the school. Kejriwal said Dhillon later appreciated the government's response in a post on X.

"Our intentions are good. If you point out our mistakes, we will correct them. We want to make improvements," Kejriwal said.

However, he urged critics not to defame the people of Punjab or government school teachers, principals, parents and students.

"It is not only the government that has improved the schools. The people of Punjab, teachers, principals, parents and children have contributed to this change," he said.

Kejriwal also alleged that doctored and AI-generated videos were being used to malign Punjab's schools.

"If the BJP has the courage, it should accept this challenge. In a joint inspection, the entire country will see what the BJP has done in Gujarat over the past 30 years and what we have done in Punjab in four-and-a-half years," he added.