Jaipur, August 20: In Rajasthan, opposition leader Tikaram Julie, along with Congress legislators, staged a protest march to the state assembly on Thursday. This demonstration was against a recent government order that prohibits media coverage of the education department.
The order from the Bhajanlal government means that the media can no longer report on the dilapidated state of schools or the deteriorating education system. Tikaram Julie, joined by other Congress members, including senior leader Sachin Pilot, marched to the assembly to voice their concerns. During the march, both leaders addressed journalists.
Julie expressed frustration, stating, “How long will they try to silence us? They cannot stop us. I mentioned in the assembly that they cannot suppress us. They want to silence the voices of children. Every household has children. How many kids can you stop from using mobile phones? How many journalists can you silence? Today marks the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, who established Navodaya Vidyalayas. Students from these schools are making India proud worldwide. Have these people done anything for education?”
He further criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promises, including the recruitment of teachers. “Before coming to power, they promised to fill all vacancies in the first year. Unfortunately, over 125,000 positions remain unfilled, leading to 900,000 children dropping out of school. There are 3,768 dilapidated schools where students cannot attend classes. 85,000 classrooms are damaged, and there are no teachers available. This is a serious situation, and the government must take action,” he added.
Julie also highlighted the misallocation of funds, stating, “CSR funds are being given to the RSS instead of schools. If this money had been directed towards schools, the situation would have improved significantly.”
He condemned the government’s attempts to cover up its failures with what he termed a “lid law,” asserting that the people of Rajasthan would reject such measures. “This is just a trailer; the full film is yet to come. We will inform the public about the dire condition of schools. They may try to hide it, but we will expose the truth. While they discuss communal issues, we will focus on real problems and engage with the public.”
Congress leader Sachin Pilot also criticized the state government for its lack of seriousness regarding education. He stated that students are paying the price for the government’s negligence. “The government must prioritize the condition of schools and improve infrastructure. With the monsoon season upon us, roofs are collapsing in many areas. The government is trying to prevent journalists from reporting on these issues to hide its mistakes. However, the public is aware of the reality. The government must be held accountable,” he emphasized.
Pilot lamented the closure of schools that were previously opened, noting that students are protesting due to the lack of teachers and the dire conditions in many schools. “This government is not serious about education. Instead of addressing the crumbling system, they are trying to conceal it. The government is in disarray, lacking both funds and a plan. If they prioritize education, improvements can be made,” he concluded.
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