RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 10: Cutting across political barrier, Jharkhand education minister Jagarnath Mahto today remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with respect for his Sarv Siksha Abhiyan while replying on behalf of the government before the Jharkhand assembly passed a budget of Rs 13699 crore of the school education and literacy department and higher and technical education department.
However, while remembering the BJP stalwart with respect, the minister missed no opportunity to target Raghubar Das, the former chief minister of the state.
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ek Pavitra Naam Hai. Unhone Sarv Sikha Abhiyan Laya. Lekin Jaise Hi Raghubar Sarkar Aayi Vilay ke Naam Par ise ban kar diya,” the education minister said.
As the state education minister, who is from the JMM praised the former prime minister, the BJP members remained present in the house and unlike other days did not boycott the government’s reply though they did not take back the cut motion despite a request from the minister to maintain the tradition of the house.
Minister Mahto during his speech expressed the commitment of the government to provide quality education to the students of the state and said if ministers, legislators and government officials start sending their children to government schools no one can stop government schools to become ideal schools.
The education minister said the government took a historic step of sorting out the problem of para teachers and planned to improve it further. He assured that words written in the budget will be followed in letter and spirit and he will not give any opportunity to anyone to speak against the performance of his department if he survives and turns up in the house with the fourth budget.
The minister has studied up to class X and when the JMM appointed him a minister the party has come under criticism. Accepting his low qualification the minister said “Jo Padhe Likhe Log Nahi Kar Paye, Yah Dashmi Paas Sikha Mantri Ne Kar Dikhya.”
Assuring proper action on the plan the minister who survived severe corona infection, said: “Hamari Sakar Kaam Ki Sarkar Hai, Kitab Ki Sarkar Nahi. Raghubar Sakar Kitab Ki Sarkar Thi.”
Expressing his solidarity with opposition party legislators the minister said he had always accepted their suggestion and had taken cognizance even on the basis of the newspaper reports.
The minister said he is a pupil of Shibu Soren and Vinod Bihari Mahto, who during agitation always asked the people of the state to get a proper education. “Padho Aur Lado,” the minister quoted Binod Bihari Mahto saying.
