‘Politics of jail’ vs ‘politics of education’ in Manish Sisodia’s letter from prison
In a letter to the country from prison, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asked why leaders who have attained positions of power have not established excellent schools and colleges for the youth of the country. He asked why education has always been side-lined, despite its critical importance.
“If politicians had devoted their resources and energy towards education, every child in our nation would have had access to quality schools like developed countries,” wrote Sisodia, who is lodged in Tihar jail after the CBI arrested him in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.
When politicians achieve success by running jails, they have no incentive to prioritise education, he said.
According to Sisodia, it’s easier to silence dissent by imprisoning critics than to establish quality educational institutions for all children in the country.
“In Uttar Pradesh, a folk singer who expressed dissent was threatened with imprisonment by the government. Similarly, when a Congress spokesperson used a term that referenced Modi ji, the police in two states apprehended him like a movie scene. The reason Arvind Kejriwal ji is considered a criminal is because he has introduced a new form of politics that challenges Modi ji’s approach. As a result, two members of Kejriwal’s government are currently imprisoned,” he wrote.
Sisodia wrote that the picture is visible and clear as day. “The politics of jail boosts the power of the ruling leader. However, the issue with the politics of education is that it empowers the nation, not the individual leader,” he added.
The AAP leader said that if every child, regardless of their family background, receives education and becomes a responsible citizen, the country will progress.
“Fortunately, during this period of freedom, the country has two contrasting political approaches – politics of jail and politics of education. As a result, it’s clear to the nation which approach benefits the individual leader and which benefits the country as a whole,” he said.
Manish Sisodia stated that the politics of education is a challenging task, unlike the politics of prison, which can be done by pressuring four officers of the investigating agency.
“In education, it takes a lot of effort to motivate children, parents, and teachers. In contrast, in prison politics, it is easy to pressure investigating agencies to send someone to jail. However, this approach does not work in the politics of education. Teachers cannot be forced to work under pressure or intimidation. They need respect and love to perform their duties efficiently. Leaders have always found it easier to achieve success in prison politics than in the politics of education,” he said.
