Jalandhar: Though known for its capacity to drive narratives and build strong publicity campaigns, the Aam Aadmi Party govt’s major publicity blitzkrieg turned into a publicity nightmare in the
last week, particularly in its core area of focus—school education and the much-touted Rs 2,000 crore Sikhya Kranti initiative.The controversy started on the eve of the initiative’s launch, with
the Punjab govt issuing directions to school heads about using social media accounts, especially X, to help make a hashtag trend regarding the Sikhya Kranti. They were also instructed to use a
poster of chief minister Bhagwant Mann with the slogan Punjab Sikhya Kranti as their profile picture on social media handles and as their WhatsApp status. Opposition leaders accused the Punjab govt of using Punjab teachers as its IT cell, and a few teachers’ unions also took exception to these directions. Claims regarding the inauguration of 341 govt schools in Punjab also came under scrutiny.
However, the real adverse publicity began with the launch functions on Monday. As CM Mann formally launched the campaign from a govt school in Nawanshahr, a controversy started within a few hours. The inauguration plaque of the School of Eminence at Nawanshahr also had former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s name, just below the CM’s name. Opposition leaders and several Punjabi netizens questioned his name, pointing out that he did not hold any constitutional or official position.
On the same day, related to a function under the same program at a school in Samana, district Patiala, a video of MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra rebuking the school staff over “poor management of the function” went viral.Following strong criticism from teachers and the opposition, education minister Harjot Singh Bains distanced his department from the MLA’s remarks and said that teachers deserved respect. Jouramajra apologised by issuing a statement. Two days later, images of a plaque about opening “repaired toilets”, bearing the names of CM Mann, minister Bains, and Bhadaur MLA Labh Singh Ugoke at a school in the village of Ghunas in district Ba