Throwing a vicious attack on the Delhi Government, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defined Delhi's education system as hollow (khokhla) and a gimmick (nautanki).

While attacking the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) dispensation over the excise policy, Pradhan said his friends Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are trying to wrap up their theft by spotlighting the The New York Times story on Delhi's education system.

On Friday, in his address at Business Today's India@100 conclave, Dharmendra Pradhan stated that Delhi's education system is khokhla (hollow) and a nautanki (gimmick). According to the National Achievement Survey, the performance of class 10th and 12th students of schools under the Delhi government has been continuously declining. He added that the Delhi government is just trying to wrap up their theft using the excise policy by showing the New York Times article, while in reality, the situation is completely different.

The report or article published by the New York Times last week triggered a war of words between the BJP and the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) after the CBI raided Sisodia's residence, which also holds the education and excise portfolios in linkage with alleged irregularities in the framing and execution of the government's excise policy. The American newspaper had said while rejecting the paid news charge that the story published by the New York Times was based on impartial and on-the-ground reporting.

Kejriwal tweeted- The Day Delhi's Education model was appreciated, and Manish Sisodia's photograph appeared on the front page of America's most popular newspaper (The New York Times)- the Centre sent CBI to the residence of Manish. Kejriwal also tweeted in Hindi that CBI is welcome and they will extend full cooperation. Earlier, also there were raids and probes, but nothing came out. He added that nothing would come out now also. But on the other hand, the Education Minister is constantly attacking the Delhi government by defining their education system as hollow (khokhla) and gimmicky (nautanki).

Dharmendra Pradhan's comments come in the backdrop of an article in the New York Times about the Kejriwal government's education model for the national capital and involved deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiya's photograph with school children. The Education Minister continuously urged Kejriwal and Manish Sisodiya not to hide but show the actual condition of schools under the Delhi government.

Elaborating on the NE and foreign universities, the Education minister stated that India would offer all kinds of educational institutions- public, private, and foreign, and regulatory curbs will not interfere with any of them, but monopolies will not be permitted. He added that it is the state's responsibility to build a level playing field. One section of society will be safeguarded by government intervention. Those who can afford to pay from their pockets should pay.

News Source: The Indian Express