NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday showcased a newly furnished government school library in Punjab’s Mansa district, saying the example showed that state-run schools could match expectations and that “it is all about ‘neeyat’ (intent).“Kejriwal shared a video of the library at Government Senior Secondary School, Bhaini Bhagha, on X and used it to counter the perception that government schools cannot offer good facilities.“This is a library at a government school in Punjab. The next time someone tells you that government schools can’t be good, show them this video. It is all about ‘neeyat’,” Kejriwal wrote while reposting a video shared by Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains.Earlier, Bains had posted visuals of the renovated facility and described it as a modern, well-equipped space for students.“Delighted to share the newly furnished library at Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Bhaini Bhagha (Mansa), a bright, well-equipped space where students can now read, learn and dream bigger,” Bains said in his post.The development came amid a separate protest in Chandigarh, where more than 180 Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) teachers, accompanied by family members, staged a sit-in outside the residence of Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema.The teachers were protesting alleged irregularities and high-handedness by department clerks during the recruitment process involving the 180 ETT teachers.One protester alleged that an education department clerk had orchestrated a scam to accommodate his own people and demanded the official’s suspension.“We are demanding the suspension of the Education Department clerk who orchestrated such a massive scam to accommodate his own people. We are fighting for our rights. The Education Minister and the Finance Minister claim they lack the authority to suspend the clerk and promise to arrange a meeting with the CM, yet nothing has happened to date. They are merely making excuses… We have been seeking justice for 10 years...” the protester said.Another protester alleged that the AAP government had shielded the department clerk and referred to an IAS report, claiming it found that the issue arose because of the clerk’s error.“We were originally recruited in 2016 but were subsequently dismissed on the grounds that there were flaws in the recruitment process. Later, we were reinstated following a court order. However, the Aam Aadmi Party government, in collusion with a departmental clerk–shielded that clerk while reinstating us. Now, an IAS report has stated that the issue arose due to the clerk’s error and that we, the 180 ETT teachers, were not at fault; yet, despite multiple meetings over the past week, we have received no justice... We came to Chandigarh seeking justice, but our teachers are being subjected to assault and violence…” the protester said.The Punjab Police later intervened and removed the protesters from the vicinity of the finance minister’s residence.(With ANI inputs)
