This Article is From Jul 14, 2016

In Prakash Javadekar's Bounty To Sonia And Maneka Gandhi's Turfs, A Lesson

In Prakash Javadekar's Bounty To Sonia And Maneka Gandhi's Turfs, A Lesson

Prakash Javadekar replaced Smriti Irani at the Education Ministry in last week's reshuffle.

Highlights

  • Prakash Javadekar ordered new schools in both constituencies
  • Asked about it, he quipped, "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas"
  • Smriti Irani had reserved special attention for Amethi, Rae Bareli
New Delhi: Among the first decisions to be taken by new HRD minister Prakash Javdekar is one that puts him in total contrast to his predecessor Smriti Irani.

"I have approved a new Kendriya Vidyalaya at the rail coach factory in Rae Bareli today and have approved a double shift at the Pilibhit Kendriya Vidyalaya,'' the new education minister told reporters.

The reference to two VIP constituencies of the Gandhi family - on both sides of the political divide -- couldn't go amiss. Asked about it, he smiled, saying, "It shows we believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas''.

While Rae Bareli is Sonia Gandhi's constituency, Sultanpur is the constituency of her sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi. But the minister denied that they had been specially selected, saying, "The files were on my desk first".

When NDTV called the Congress camp in Rae Bareli, they said there were already three Kendriya Vidyalayas operating the area, including one at the Rail Coach factory, which started two years ago.

But a local leader who works on the Gandhi pocket boroughs said there was a "pending request" for a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Amethi.

Over the last couple of years, former Education Minister Smriti Irani had singled out Amethi for special attention, even going there with sarees on one occasion to highlight how the Gandhi family had neglected the area.

When NDTV contacted the Education Minister's office about the Kendriya Vidyalayas already operating from there, they said they would reconfirm the details.

Ms Irani was moved to the less-than-high profile textile ministry last week after a major cabinet reconfiguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Sources had told NDTV that it was a demotion for the minister, whose tenure witnessed unrest on the campuses and other controversies.

Mr Javadekar, who has replaced her, has quietly made his own statement, reaching out to the students on Day One, and asserted that dialogue was the key to avoid agitations. Seen as non-confrontational, he had been handpicked by the party leadership.
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