Led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday led a foot march to Raj Niwas against Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena’s interference in the city Government’s functioning.
The latest flashpoint between the L-G and Kejriwal is the Delhi Government’s proposal to send schoolteachers to Finland for training which Saxena has rejected.
The LG’s office, however, denied that it rejected the proposal, saying it only advised the State to record the cost-benefit-analysis to assess the effectiveness of such programs in the past. Questioning the L-G, the CM urged him to give it in writing that the proposal has not been rejected.
The AAP’s march started after the Delhi Assembly was adjourned for the day. Kejriwal and the MLAs began the two-km walk from the Vidhan Sabha amid tight security arrangements but they were halted a few metres away from L-G’s residence by the police.
Kejriwal on Monday insisted on meeting Saxena with ruling AAP Ministers and MLAs. Sources in the LG’s office said a message was sent to Kejriwal that Saxena has agreed to meet with him and his deputy.
Confirming that he received a message, the Chief Minister insisted that his MLAs be allowed to attend the meeting as well.
During the march, Kejriwal and other AAP MLAs carried placards reading: “Mr LG, allow the teachers to go to Finland.” After being stopped by the police, Kejriwal and the MLAs returned to the Assembly.
“It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and MLAs are waiting on the road to meet the L-G but he refused to meet us,” the CM said. “Honourable L-G is saying he never rejected teachers’ Finland training proposal. If that is the case, he (L-G) may kindly write to me a letter immediately, saying that he has no objection to the proposal and the matter will be over,” Kejriwal said.
Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said: “Who is L-G sahab to stop teachers’ training? The Delhi Government’s works are being deliberately impeded for political reasons.
“The L-G is not our headmaster to check our homework. He has to say yes or no to our proposals”.
How will an elected Government function if it does not have any power to take decisions, the CM asked.
Kejriwal said that they were asking to meet the LG on “why is he stopping our teachers from going to Finland”. “Finland has the best education system....We will wait here and we will fight for the future of our kids,” he added.
Earlier, in a tweet, hitting out at the Delhi LG, Kejriwal wrote: “Delhi does not need tyranny but constitution and democracy. Our struggle for people’s rights will continue.”
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had planned to send two groups of 30 primary in-charges to Finland in December 2022 and March 2023.
The Delhi government has so far sent 1,079 teachers to different countries for training. Of these, 59 have gone to Finland, 420 to Cambridge and 600 to Singapore. Besides, 860 school principals have been imparted training in prestigious institutes like IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow.
Asserting that the proposal has not been rejected, L-G’a office said the Government has been advised to evaluate it in totality and record the cost-benefit analysis in terms of impact on the quality of education being provided to students.
“The L-G has also advised for examining and identifying similar training programmes in the Institutions of Excellence, within the country, so as to ensure optimal utilisation of resources, fiscal prudence and administrative effectiveness,” the official said.