Congress Dares CJP to Audit Punjab Schools "With Same Eyes" as Elsewhere

Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot has challenged the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to assess government schools in the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled state with the same standards it applies while auditing schools in other states. Pilot said Punjab should not receive any special treatment and questioned whether the pressure group would examine the state’s education infrastructure with the same level of scrutiny and courage.

Pilot was responding to a Rajasthan-based journalist who contrasted the CJP’s findings in Rajasthan with its observations in Punjab. The journalist noted that the group had reportedly found a school operating from a stable in Rajasthan, while a school visited by the CJP delegation in Punjab had facilities such as a swimming pool. In a post on X, Pilot said Punjab and the AAP government deserved no “friendly exemption” during such assessments.

The remarks followed a visit by a CJP delegation led by spokesperson Saurav Das to government schools in Ludhiana under the group’s “School Thik Karo” campaign. Das said the state’s Schools of Eminence were well maintained and had several modern facilities, including swimming pools, ramps, artificial intelligence laboratories and computer labs. He also said some of the infrastructure appeared better than what was available in several private schools.

Also Read: Sachin Pilot, Jat Politics And The Rajasthan Congress Leadership Contest

However, Das also flagged shortcomings during the inspection and said the concerns had been conveyed to Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. According to the delegation, the minister agreed to meet the group and assured it that corrective action would be taken promptly. The team also visited Government Senior Secondary School in Jandiali, established in 1936, and observed that much of its infrastructure remained old despite maintenance work over the years.

Punjab has around 19,000 government schools, while the state government has announced plans for 118 Schools of Eminence. However, only a portion of the proposed institutions have been inaugurated so far. Das said the contrast between upgraded schools and institutions continuing to operate with ageing infrastructure highlighted the need for more consistent attention to government education facilities across the state.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal welcomed the CJP’s observations and thanked the group for raising concerns affecting students. He said the party would work with the Punjab government to address the issues immediately. Pilot’s challenge comes ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections expected early next year, with the Congress seeking to regain power from the AAP, which defeated it in the 2022 polls.

Also Read: Baghel’s Exit Exposes How Warring’s Leadership Deepens Factional Crisis In Punjab Congress