AAP MLA Jouramajra tenders apology for outburst at Sikhya Kranti event in Samana

Former minister and AAP legislator Chetan Singh Jouramajra on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology for his outburst during a Sikhya Kranti event three days ago, where he had rapped teachers of a school for alleged mismanagement and the “lack of control” over students.

“If any teacher feels that I had stated something inappropriate, I apologise to them. Teachers are our masters (gurus). They show us the right path. I tender my unconditional apology to the entire teaching community,” he said in a video clip that surfaced on social media.

The apology came after state Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains criticised his party legislator for his behaviour at the event held at the School of Eminence in Samana as part of the state government’s 54-day Sikhya Kranti campaign.

Various teacher unions, especially the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), were up in arms against the MLA and gave him three days to tender an unconditional apology, failing which they threatened to launch a statewide protest.

Jouramajra tendered the apology on the sidelines of an event held today.

According to sources, Jouramajra’s comments came under immense scrutiny even from within the party as some leaders accused him of “torpedoing” the state government’s much propagated Sikhya Kranti programme.

In an over two-minute video of the Samana school event, Jouramajra was seen visibly upset when he was invited to address the gathering.

Jouramajra lambasted Principal Harjot Kaur for alleged mismanagement during the event.

“Your programme is a complete failure. Do you exercise any control over students or not? This is not a school. There is nothing to call it a school,” said Jouramajra.

He also admonished the school staff for the lack of decorum. “Tell me how many students and teachers are absent. Is this a planned programme? Children are not listening to you. How would you make them study? Those students who are strolling around, mark them absent. I will lodge a complaint with CM (Bhagwant) Mann and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. What else can you do when you could not even arrange more chairs?” he said.

Vikram Dev, state president of the Democratic Teachers’ Front, said the incident and the subsequent public apology could have been avoided had Jouramajra showed some grace and maturity.

Dev said his union has decided to postpone the statewide effigy-burning programme scheduled for Friday.

Punjab