Agartala, Sep 15, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Sept 15: The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Pradesh Youth Congress on Friday launched a protest to oppose the “anti-student policies of the BJP government”.

Leaders and activists of the party gheraoed the Sikhsha Bhavan demanding the state government to revoke the decision of ‘Vidyajyoti Scheme’.

Opposing the ‘Vidyajyoti Scheme’ and National Education Policy 2020, the protestors said that Vidyajyoti Scheme is weakening the base of education.

Youth Congress leader Shahjahan Islam while speaking to the reporters said,”Education is the birth right of every citizen and BJPs policies are to snatch away this basic right as well by privatizing the education sector”.

Talking about the issues faced by the students, the protestors said, “The 100 such schools brought under the Vidyajyoti Scheme in the name of advancement in the education sector have no basic infrastructure, lack of teachers and many more problems”.

“Students belonging to many poor families studying in these schools are facing tough times as they are not able to submit fees. Students who will be appearing for Board examinations are charged Rs 2,5000 – 3,000, besides every year the students have to give Rs 1,000 – 2,000 at the schools”, he said.

The Congress youth activists further alleged, “It was the BJP that came with the promise of ‘free education for all’ and the same was enlisted in the Vision Document 2018, but instead of complying with the promise, the party has turned education into a business”.

Lashing out at the BJP ministers the NSUI leaders said, “Ratan Lal Nath, who was the minister for the crucial education sector was the worst ever education minister Tripura had. And now, the chief minister who holds the Education portfolio as well is no different”.

“Tughlaqi decisions of the BJP ministers are distancing education from common men instead of development”, he said.