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‘Cops in classrooms': Punjab LoP Bajwa slams AAP education model

‘Cops in classrooms': Punjab LoP Bajwa slams AAP education model

Time of India2 days ago
Chandigarh: Punjab's opposition leader has accused the state govt of turning classrooms into "detention centres", after uniformed police allegedly occupied a Bathinda govt school for hours to prevent a teacher from joining a protest.
Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress leader in the Punjab sssembly, called the incident a "new low" in chief minister
Bhagwant Mann
's much-hyped education reforms. "Welcome to the Delhi Model — now with police in classrooms," Bajwa posted on X, in a scathing dig at the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) flagship 'Shiksha Kranti' (education revolution) campaign.
Uniformed police personnel reportedly remained inside a pre-primary classroom for almost six hours on Aug 4.
Bajwa alleged their presence was meant to intimidate a female teacher, suspected — wrongly, he said — of planning to participate in a protest. "So this is what (AAP's national convener) Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann meant by education revolution?" Bajwa asked, accusing the govt of harassing teachers, frightening children, and misusing police authority in schools.
Further controversy erupted after Bathinda's senior superintendent of police (SSP) denied authorising the deployment. "No such order was given," the SSP stated reportedly. Bajwa then questioned who was responsible: "Then who ordered this circus? Bhagwant Mann's remote control in Delhi?" The state govt has not yet issued an official response.
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