The monsoon session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly commenced today amidst significant political activity and protests. In a major show of opposition strength, the Congress party, led by the Leader of the Opposition, Tikaram Jully, organized a massive foot march to the Assembly, while the primary objective of this march was to protest against the state government's recent decision to ban the entry of media and the general public into government schools, as well as to highlight the overall deteriorating condition of the education system in the state.
The Incident at Poddar School
The protest was sparked by an incident at the Poddar Mook Badhir (Deaf and Dumb) School located at Trimurti Circle. Tikaram Jully had initially visited the school to inspect its condition and understand the challenges faced by the institution. However, upon reaching the school, he was stopped at the gate by authorities citing a new order from the state government, while this order restricts the entry of outsiders, including the media and public representatives, into school premises. The Leader of the Opposition strongly condemned this move, labeling it an attempt to hide the failures of the education department.
The March to the Assembly
Following the incident at the school, the entire Congress legislative party gathered in support of Tikaram Jully. The foot march commenced from the Poddar School at Trimurti Circle and proceeded towards the Rajasthan Assembly. The route of the march included Ambedkar Circle and Rambag Circle, eventually passing through Amar Jawan Jyoti before reaching the Assembly gates. A large number of Congress party workers also joined the MLAs in this demonstration, carrying banners and shouting slogans against the government's policies. Due to the scale of the march, the police had to intervene and stop traffic at several points along the route to ensure the safety of the participants and manage the flow of vehicles.
Demands and Criticism of the Government
During the march, Tikaram Jully addressed the media and outlined the opposition's demands. He termed the government's new order a "black law" and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Jully emphasized that the voices of children and the concerns regarding their education shouldn't be suppressed. He stated, "Our demand is that this black law be withdrawn and the condition of schools be improved.
Political Attack on Leadership
The Leader of the Opposition also took the opportunity to criticize the top leadership of both the central and state governments. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma have not addressed the critical issues surrounding education. Jully remarked that the current administration seems to have no concern for the education sector, which is vital for the state's future. The Congress party has signaled that the issue of education and the controversial entry ban will be a major point of contention during the ongoing monsoon session of the assembly.