Gujarat minister Vaghani clarifies his remarks over education after AAP, Cong criticism

Gujarat Education Minister Jitu Vaghani clarified on Thursday that his earlier remarks asking people to move to another state were meant for those who spread disorder.

Facing flak for his remarks about the education system in Gujarat, minister Jitu Vaghani on Thursday said he has respect for the state and its people, and asserted his comments were targeted at those who want to spread “anarchy and disorder”.

Vaghani had on Wednesday courted controversy after he said those who have problems with the education system of Gujarat can take leaving certificates of their wards and go to other states. The BJP minister holds the education portfolio.

The opposition Congress and the AAP had strongly criticized the BJP minister over his comments and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, on Thursday tweeted about the remarks after which Vaghani issued a clarification.

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“My message was targeted at those who want to spread anarchy and disorder in the state. I do not need any certificate for my respect for Gujarat and its people,” Vaghani said.

“The remarks were against those who talk against the country and against Gujarat, those who ask for proof of surgical strike and boost confidence of terrorists, those who just work for politics of securing vote banks and for those who just indulge in denigrating Gujarat and the country,” he said.

Vaghani had said, “Those people who do not like the school education in Gujarat should collect their children’s certificates and go to whichever state or country they like, instead of criticising the state where they have lived and grown up.” Reacting to the comments, Sisodia said in a tweet that no need for people to leave Gujarat as his party AAP will come to power in the state and provide Delhi-like education.