Centre Paralysing AAP’s Education Agenda: Sacked Advisor Marlena

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia: This is a conspiracy by the BJP government to derail the education revolution in Delhi.

Following orders from the Union Home Ministry, Atishi Marlena will no longer be an advisor to Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP government in Delhi.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

It’s the latest tussle between the two governments in Delhi. On Tuesday, 17 April, the AAP government was forced to cancel the appointments of nine ministerial advisors after the Union Home Ministry said the Centre had not approved the creation of any such posts.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was indignant, “The target for this order is Atishi Marlena. It’s because she is key to improving the education system in the city. This is a conspiracy to derail Delhi’s education revolution.”

So what does the woman at the centre of this storm have to say? Speaking to The Quint hours after she was removed from her position as advisor to the Deputy CM of the Delhi government, Marlena said, “This is definitely an effort by the Centre to try and paralyse our work on education, otherwise why would they do this?”

Marlena: Centre Sacking Me Is Proof of Our Good Work

Marlena, who advised the Delhi government in the department of education, says she considers the marching orders given to her as a vindication of the positive work done by the AAP government in public schools.

What can I say, whatever is there is for everyone to see. Basically, this just goes to show that the work that is happening in Delhi government schools is hitting people hard, I guess. They don’t want things to change, to transform. <i>Aur kya hai. </i>The work speaks for itself.

Atishi Marlena, former advisor to the Delhi government

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia interacting with students at a government school in the capital.

In the 38 months that this AAP government has been in power, the party claims that Marlena’s services have cost the treasury a total of less than 50 rupees.

Taking a potshot seemingly at the BJP’s handling of the recent rape cases in Unnao and Kathua, Sisodia added, “Narendra Modi has advisors who advise his government on how to save those accused of raping young girls and we have advisors who help us educate young girls.”

Sisodia Challenges BJP to Compare Education Report Cards

Venting his frustration at the Home Ministry’s orders, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia dared, “I’m challenging BJP to find one state that it rules where government schools have not been shut down. No BJP govt has been able to deliver anything on education and health. But here in Delhi, we are improving the education system.”

AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was also named in the list provided by the Union Home Ministry, termed the decision a “diversionary tactic”.

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