The President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, today expressed vehement disapproval of the recent decisions made by the Chandigarh administration regarding the education of children from Punjab.
In a controversial move, the Chandigarh administration has decreed that, henceforth, students hailing from Punjab will be denied admission to government schools in Chandigarh at the Pre-Nursery and Nursery levels. These seats will now be exclusively reserved for Chandigarh residents, with admissions contingent upon the presentation of a Chandigarh Aadhar Card.
Voicing his dissent, the PPCC Chief stated, “Education is a fundamental human right for all. How can decisions be made to strip certain children of this basic right while affording it to others? Students from Punjab currently occupy close to 40% of the seats in Chandigarh government schools. This decision unjustly robs a significant portion of our youth of their rights from an early age.”
Raja Warring further criticized the central government’s influence over Chandigarh as a Union Territory, stating, “Chandigarh, being under the control of the Central Government led by the BJP, is now subject to measures that directly impact the people of Punjab. Day by day, Punjab is facing challenges, and decisions contrary to our interests are being imposed upon us. Punjab’s rights over Chandigarh continue to decrease with each day. Be it imposing a double charge for parking for Punjab cars, or not letting our children study in government schools in the Union Territory.”
Highlighting the paradox of the government’s approach, Warring remarked, “Education is arguably the most crucial sector for human development. While the central government champions a universal education policy, it simultaneously fosters division and denies equal rights to our population in Chandigarh. This is fundamentally unfair to the people of Punjab.”
The PPCC Chief also underscored the broader implications for Punjab’s future, stating, “Chandigarh’s colleges and universities have designated quotas for students from the Union Territory. This decision jeopardizes the future of Punjab’s students, diminishing their eligibility for these institutions. It is a vicious trap, and the people of our state are being ensnared.”
In conclusion, Raja Warring asserted, “We will steadfastly oppose this decision. We cannot permit the deprivation of such a basic human right from the people of Punjab. This ruling on education contradicts the principles upon which our constitution and nation have been built. We pledge to fight against it until the very end.”
