The Modi government stopped Punjab's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan fund, they are already withholding NHM and RDF money of Punjab
BJP is rejected by the people of Punjab, out of frustration they are stopping Punjab's money, but this money is not Modi or Shah's, it belongs to the people: Neel Garg
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, June 25-
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab vehemently attacked the BJP government of the centre for stopping Sarva Shiksha abhiyan (SSA) fund of Punjab. The party said that the Modi government is already withholding NHM (National Health Mission) and RDF (Rural Development Fund) of Punjab and now they stopped money which goes to the education of children in Primary schools, the BJP wants to stop the development and progress of Punjab.
Addressing a press conference at the party office on Tuesday, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg cornered the BJP government for having step motherly attitude towards Punjab and urged the Punjab MPs and BJP leaders to raise this issue of pending funds with the central government. He was accompanied by AAP spokespersons Babbi Badal and Jasman Gill for this press conference.
Neel Garg said that it is a matter of the education of young children and their future. The AAP leader said that the step motherly behaviour of the BJP towards Punjab is not new but what is more shameful is that this time they are putting the education of children at stake. Garg said that India has a federal structure and a constitution, through which central and state governments are supposed to work together for the development of the people but the Modi government is doing the opposite, they are creating obstacles and withholding funds of the state government to stop the progress.
The AAP leader said that the Modi government has stopped Rs. 380 crores of SSA, this money is for the education of young children in Primary schools, their books and the clothes. The centre government was supposed to release this money in four installments to Punjab where the first installment was 170 crores but they are refusing to release this money. Primary Education is the right of every child and for SSA the centre gives 60% and the state contributes the rest 40%, but the Modi government is refusing to give their share for the education of Punjab's children. There are 3929 employees under SSA in Punjab, it will also affect their salaries.
The AAP spokesperson said that the children of the poor go to government primary and middle schools, so by withholding this fund the Modi government is directly denying the education to the children of the poor. Garg said that the centre has brought a scheme named PM Shri, so they are forcing the Punjab government to close their schools of eminence and implement this scheme. He said that the AAP governments of Delhi and Punjab have done exceptional and unprecedented work in the fields of education and health. Our education model is better and already successful, why will we scrap it off now to implement something new.