With next year’s Punjab elections in mind, Arvind Kejriwal government has made Punjabi compulsary in all Delhi government schools. The government has declared that Punjabi will now be taught in all government schools.
Kejriwal launched a special campaign on Friday declaring that Punjabi will be taught in all government schools in Delhi.
The government also published big advertisements in almost every major Hindi newspapers and some other national English dailies declaring that ‘Delhi government had taken important decision to promote Punjabi language.’
The advertisement further added, “Now, every government school must have at least one Punjabi language teacher. Salary of Punjabi language teachers will be raised.”
The newspaper ads by AAP government has evoked sharp reactions on social media.
Congress’ Delhi president, Ajay Maken said, “Kejriwal uses govt money for full page Ad in Punjab on Punjabi Teachers And-Delhi suffers strikes by Govt Servants on non payment of salary. Money spent on Govt Ad for Kejriwal publicity is more than to implement the announcement of hiring Punjabi teachers! Waste of Taxpayer money. (sic)”
Kejriwal uses Govt money for full page Ad in Punjab on Punjabi Teachers😒
And-Delhi suffers strikes by GovtServants on non payment of salary
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) June 10, 2016
Money spent on Govt Ad for Kejriwal publicity is more than to implement the announcement of hiring Punjabi teachers!
Waste of Taxpayer money— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) June 10, 2016
The controversy over crores of rupees being splashed by Delhi government came for discussion in the special assembly session too. Deputy Chief Minister, Manishter Sisodia, informed the House that his government had spent Rs 75 crore last year in addition to Rs 18 crore in the new financial year since April this year.
He said that the CAG had launched an investigation into the allegations of government money being spent on advertisements by Delhi government adding that his government welcomed the probe.
He, however, added that the CAG must also investigate the ad expenditure of other state government, particularly run by the BJP.
Many AAP supporters on Facebook were seen criticisng the latest ads by their leaders on Punjabi as they confessed that this had made Kejriwal just another political leader.
AAP, which had won four MPs from Punjab in the last Lok Sabha elections, is eyeing to make serious gains in Punjab in the next year’s elections. It will be pitted against not just the ruling Akali-BJP but also the Congress, which has ruled states most of the times since the independence.
Here are some social media reactions:
Such wasteful populism this. Delhi used to be Punjabi city, now truly cosmopolitan. Gurmukhi used only in Gurdwaras pic.twitter.com/1igp8BBpx6
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 10, 2016
Completely disagree wd d ad by AAP saying Punjabi teachers salary hiked & at least 1 Punjabi teacher/school @ArvindKejriwal caste politics?
— Shashwat (@Shashwat014) June 10, 2016
What's wrong with spending #Delhi tax payers' money for @AamAadmiParty interests in Punjab polls? Nothing, of course pic.twitter.com/s7HHPwjoo5
— abantika ghosh (@abantika77) June 10, 2016
Last 3 RTs….suddenly namin bridges, appointing "punjabi teachers", bringing "dalit" status…sadly, nothin but appeasement politics..😔
— SaumyaP (@spandey2004) June 10, 2016
Full page ad about Punjabi teacher, counselor beaten we talk about his caste.. Who is guiding you @ArvindKejriwal..?
— PythonSays.. (@AMIT861986) June 10, 2016
Full page Kejriwal ad today. Guess for what? Appointing a Punjabi teacher in every school, increasing their salary. ._/\_
— विनोद शर्मा 🇮🇳 (@vinod_sharma) June 10, 2016
