Amid Freebie Debate, Kejriwal Promises 'Free & Quality Education' If AAP Voted To Power In Gujarat

Kejriwal's remarks came amid the ongoing debate between AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government over distribution of freebies.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. (PTI Image)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced free and quality education for all students in government schools of Gujarat if Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government comes to power in the poll-bound state. While addressing an event in Bhuj, the AAP convener also assured auditing of private schools in a pre-poll promise ahead of the year-end Assembly elections.

"All those born in Gujarat will get free and quality education. We will not force anybody. If parents have money, they can send their kids to private schools. But if they do not have money, we will not let the lack of money come in the way of good education for their kids. We will provide the best education for free," Kejriwal said addressing a town hall in Kutch district.

✅ગુજરાતના દરેક બાળકને સારું અને મફત શિક્ષણ
✅દિલ્હીની જેમ જ બનાવીશું ગુજરાતની દરેક શાળાને શાનદાર
✅ગુજરાતમાં પણ લગાવીશું ખાનગી શાળાઓના મનસ્વી ફી-વધારા પર રોક
✅પ્રવાસી શિક્ષકોને કાયમી કરી શિક્ષકોની ઘટ પુરી કરીશું
✅શિક્ષકોને શિક્ષણ સિવાય અન્ય કોઈ કામ નહીંpic.twitter.com/7qke9GPVye

— AAP Gujarat । Mission2022 (@AAPGujarat) August 16, 2022

During his speech, Delhi CM also asserted that enhancing education quality of state-run schools in Gujarat will help eradicate poverty, adding that it is very much possible to secure the future of 53 lakh students who attend government schools in Gujarat just like he has done with 18 lakh pupils going to such institutes in Delhi.

Kejriwal's remarks came amid the ongoing debate between AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government over distribution of freebies whether it is good for economy or not. Further Kejriwal promised to improve the infrastructure of existing government schools and set up a large number of new ones across the state if his party comes to power.

This is Kejriwal's fourth visit to BJP-ruled Gujarat in recent times to campaign for his party for upcoming Assembly elections.

If AAP is elected to power in Gujarat, Kejriwal said all private schools will be audited and made to return "extra money" collected from parents like his administration has been done in Delhi.

"All private schools will be audited and those who have collected a lot of money will have to return them (to parents). If a school intends to raise fees, it will have to get permission from the government. No school will have the permission to raise fees unlawfully," he said.

Apart from reforming the education sector in Gujarat, Kejriwal had also announced series of pre-poll guarantees such as electricity, jobs, unemployment allowance, women and tribals, among others.