Sikhiya Kranti leading to credit war, Opposition mocks AAP

As leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), MLAs and ministers go on a ribbon-cutting spree in the state under the ‘Sikhiya Kranti’ initiative, political circles, especially in the Opposition, are abuzz with criticism of the credit war among state AAP leaders even for works like repair of toilets and renovation of boundary walls.

Congress MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla called out AAP for being ‘Mashoori Magan’ (focused on fame). Citing an incident where development works were inaugurated in Government Primary Smart School, Guru Ka Bagh, in village Ghukkewali, Ajnala, Aujla said on a social media platform that AAP leaders disrespected the national song by putting up the ‘mashoori’ plaque on a wall that has Jan Gan Man written in Punjabi.

Calling it a gross insult to the national anthem and a “shameful act” in a viral post on Facebook, Aujla has asked the state government to take action against such ignorant actions of its leaders. The plaque, as seen in the photographs shared by Aujla, seemed to have been taken down after Aujla’s post went viral and the damaged portion of the wall that remains is visible. The school had received grants for building smart classrooms and other technological upgrades. Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal had inaugurated the works.

Ever since the launch of Sikhiya Kranti initiative by the state government, the AAP has been facing a string of criticism by the Opposition, with some calling it ‘petty theatrics’ to ‘waste of public money’ as Punjab leaders of the party leave no stone unturned (or inaugurated, in this case) to publicise the development works being carried out in government schools, including buildings and repair of toilets.

Opposition’s comments a mockery of common people: Dhaliwal

Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, reacting to the severe criticism of the Sikhiya Kranti initiative, said that they (Opposition) are mocking the common people of Punjab whose children study in government schools. Dhaliwal emphasised that these leaders, who ruled Punjab for 75 years, failed to improve schools, yet they now criticise the Aam Aadmi Party government’s efforts to provide basic facilities.

Questioning the Opposition leaders’ understanding of government schools, Dhaliwal suggested that they are out of touch with the needs of these institutions, having studied in better equipped schools themselves. He defended the government’s initiative, asking if providing basic facilities like classrooms, bathrooms, sports equipment and computers was a crime. Dhaliwal urged Opposition leaders to visit government schools in their constituencies to see the improvements made under the AAP government.

Amritsar