Guwahati: The Twitter spat between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his counterpart Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continued onto Saturday engaged in a war of words on Twitter over the education systems in their states.
The spat began when reacting to a news report that the Assam government had decided to shut down 34 schools due to poor results Kejriwal said that shutting down schools were not the solution.
Both the CMs have exchanged war of words in the past three days.
On Saturday, the AAP supremo tweeted in Hindi, “There is a saying we have — If someone asks ‘When should I come’ and they say ‘Come whenever you can’, then it means ‘Don’t come ever’. I had asked you — ‘When should I come to see your government schools’, you didn’t tell me. Tell me, when should I come, only then I can come.”
His fresh tweet came in response to the remarks made by Sarma on Friday on the microblogging site. In a series of tweets, he had shared some of the differences between Delhi and Assam, mocking Kejriwal. “Dear @ArvindKejriwal Ji, Your ignorance is painful. Let me help you. Assam is 50 times bigger than Delhi! Our 44521 govt schools teach 65 lakh students – against your 1000+ odd schools. Our army of dedicated teachers number 2+ lakh; Midday meal workers 1.18 lakh. Fathom it?” he tweeted.
Earlier on Wednesday Kejriwal tweeted, “Shutting down schools is not the solution. We need to open many new schools all over the country. Instead of closing schools, improve the school and provide better education”.
The tweet drew a sharp response from senior BJP leader and Assam chief minister Sarma who claimed that Kejriwal had skipped ‘homework’ before commenting. He also asked how many new schools were established by the Kejriwal government in Delhi.
“Dear @ArvindKejriwal Ji. – As usual you commented on something without any homework! Since my days as Edu Minister, till now, please note, Assam Govt has established/ taken over 8610 NEW SCHOOLS; break-up below. How many new schools Delhi Government has started in the last 7 yrs?” Sarma said.
Sarma also listed numbers related to schools that the Assam government had taken into its fold. “Provincialisation or taking over pvt schools into govt fold since 2013: Elementary 6802; Secondary 1589 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya:81 Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Avashik Vidayalaya:3 Adarsha Vidyalaya:38 Tea Garden Model School:97 Curious to know Delhi’s figures!,” Sarma added.
AAP leader Kejriwal then replied that he did not mean to highlight the “flaws” in the Assam model of education and said Sarma should show him the good work being done in the field of education. Kejriwal added that he could show Sarma the work his government.
“Oho. Looks like you got it wrong. I didn’t mean to highlight your flaws. We are all one country. We have to learn from each other. Only then will India become number one country. I will come to Assam. Tell me when can I come? You show your good work in the field of education. You come to Delhi, I will show you the work I have done in Delhi,” said Arvind Kejriwal.
Sarma, however, sought to assert that there was a sea of difference between the circumstances that the two states faced.
“Dear @ArvindKejriwal Ji, Your ignorance is painful. Let me help you. Assam is 50 times bigger than Delhi! Our 44,521 govt schools teach 65 lakh students- against your 1000+ odd schools. Our army of dedicated teachers number 2+ lakh; Midday meal workers 1.18 lakh. Fathom it?”
Assam dealt, he said, faced severe challenges like flood and militancy but still delivered high-quality education. He invited the Delhi Chief Minister to visit Assam and witness the challenges first-hand .
“Unlike in Delhi, we manage fury of floods, dealt with militancy, negotiate hilly & tough terrains – and yet deliver high quality education. We’re amazing hosts. Please come; spend 2 nights in our riverine area and hill districts. See challenges we face. You’ll stop lecturing,” tweeted Sarma.
Further highlighting Assam’s education system, the Assam CM said, “We impart education in six mediums including 14 different tribal languages. Our diversity is something that we’r proud of, cherish, & ensure it to thrive through our unique education system. And yes, we do not have resources like that in Delhi. We’re proud of what we’ve and do!”
Hitting out at the AAP leader Sarma claimed that Assam’s Medical Colleges were 1000 times better than Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics.
“And yes, when you’re in Assam, which you so desperately wish to, I will take you to our Medical Colleges, 1000 times better than your Mohalla Clinic. Also, meet our bright Govt school teachers & students,” added Sarma.
The tweets of both the chief ministers went viral. BJP and AAP have been attacking each other on a range of issues in the recent times. The CBI action against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has further intensified the tussle.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia has been also summoned before a Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Assam’s Kamrup district on September 29 in connection with a defamation case. The case against Sisodia was filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A few months ago, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in a press conference alleged that the Assam government had given contracts to Sarma’s wife’s firms and son’s business partner to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits above market rates during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
CM Sarma had dismissed the allegations and filed a defamation case against Sisodia.
