Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday  raised strong objection against the ‘Performance Grading Index’ (PGI) 2019-20 released by the Centre in which Punjab was ranked number one for hosting the best Government schools in the country.

Sisodia alleged a ‘secret’ friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, saying that the report is prepared considering the Assembly elections scheduled in 2022

“Crediting the Punjab Government of running the best schools in the country at a time when the State has seen the closure of more than 800 schools and several schools found to be functioning as alcohol factories is a farce. It is crystal clear that Captain Amarinder Singh has the blessings of ModiJi and Central Government for the upcoming elections and we can consider this report as a gift to Captain Singh,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said “This report claims that government schools in Punjab have emerged to be the best while pointing that Government schools in Delhi are not up to the mark. This report is just another way to show the blessings ModiJi has showered on Capt Amarinder Singh.

This report has been released at a time when people have been raising questions regarding the performance and inadequacies of the Punjab Government in education,” he added.

Speaking on the abysmal conditions of Government run schools, Sisodia said, “Quality education and learning has become a joke in schools run by the Punjab Government. ModiJi has released this report to hide the inadequacies in quality education of Punjab. In the last 3-4 years, almost 800 Government schools have shut down in Punjab, and have been given to NGOs or other institutions to function.”

“Many Government school students have had to suffer due to gross negligence of the Punjab Government. Many children had to bear the brunt and parents had to transfer their children to private schools.

 In fact, a few Government schools in Punjab were also found to be hosting alcohol factories in their premises,” he said.

In a few days, ModiJi will release another report claiming that hospitals run by Punjab government are the best in the country, he said, adding that this is just a collaborative tactic for the upcoming elections. Sisodia reiterated that Captain Singh has made a “joke” out of the whole education system in the State. Following the release of this report, all that the Punjab Government has done is release advertisements and hide behind this farce to cover up for its inadequacies, he added.