NEW DELHI: Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said it was easier throwing political opponents in jail than giving quality education to children.In a two-and-a-half-page handwritten letter in Hindi titled ‘Shiksha, rajneeti aur jail’ (education, politics and jail), Sisodia, who is currently in judicial custody in an alleged case of corruption in the excise department, delved upon two “contrasting” approaches – ‘politics of education’ and ‘politics of jail’.The former education minister said while the ‘politics of jail’ gives power to an individual, ‘politics of education’ empowers an entire nation.”Politics of jail boosts the power of the ruling leader… politics of education empowers the nation, not the individual leader,” Sisodia said, adding, “It’s clear to the nation which approach benefits the individual leader and which benefits the country as a whole.”India’s future lies in the politics of education, he added. “India will emerge as a world leader not through the strength of its jails, but through the strength of its education system,” he said.Calling his arrest by CBI a case of political vendetta, Sisodia and his party colleagues have maintained he was targeted because of the “revolutionary work” he had done to improve education.Sisodia said only when each child, regardless of family background, receives education and becomes a responsible citizen will the country progress.”It is much easier to throw political opponents in jail than giving quality education to children. BJP’s real problem with politics of education is that it builds nations, not leaders,” wrote Sisodia.The politics of education was not an easy task and definitely not a good recipe for political success, he added. “Today, the politics of jail might be winning under BJP rule, but the future belongs to the politics of education,” he wrote.Sisodia has been in judicial custody since CBI arrested him on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. While his bail application was expected to come up for hearing Friday, the ED placed him under arrest in a money laundering case.In his letter, Sisodia also claimed that political leaders who reached positions of power never established excellent schools and colleges for the youth of the country. He alleged that education had always been “sidelined” despite being critically important to the growth of the country.”If politics had devoted its resources and energy towards education, every child in our country would have accessed quality schools like (in) developed countries,” he wrote, adding that politicians had no incentive to prioritise education.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/politics-of-education-will-beat-politics-of-jail-says-former-delhi-deputy-cm-manish-sisodia/articleshow/98528711.cms
