Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda on Sunday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties and defended the Centre's handling of the recent students' protest in New Delhi. Speaking at a state-level felicitation ceremony in Karnal, Dhanda said the government aims at safeguarding the students' interests and dismissed claims by members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) that they forced the BJP to bow down after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Reaction to CJP Claims
Dhanda described such comments as "political language" and said people often make statements without thinking. He questioned whether the protesters had gathered to force the government to bend or to seek a solution to student issues. Referencing Pradhan's resignation, Dhanda stated that the decision was taken to ensure that students did not fall into the hands of anti-national forces or elements trying to exploit the situation.
Response to Rahul Gandhi
Responding to a question about Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding alleged action against students, Dhanda asked Rahul to first look at his own party's history. He referred to the Emergency, alleging that democracy was suppressed, constitutional values were undermined, and opposition leaders were jailed during that period. He also criticised the forced sterilisation campaign carried out during the Emergency.
Commitment to Teachers
Earlier, while addressing teachers at the ceremony organised by the All Haryana Government College Teachers' Association at Pandit Chiranji Lal Government College in Karnal's Sector-14, Dhanda said the state government is committed to continuously improving the quality of higher education in Haryana. He assured teachers that the government would give positive consideration to their demands and issues, and emphasised that the interests of government college teachers would not be overlooked. On the occasion, a souvenir of the association was also released.
Teachers' Unity
Dr Rajesh Ranjha, president of the association, said the programme served as an important platform to strengthen the unity of teachers and strengthen their collective voice. He expressed hope that the government would soon address the pending demands of government college teachers.
