Kota: The Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) has opposed what it called political interference in Rajasthan’s govt schools after a clash during an unauthorised school “inspection” by workers of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Jaipur.ABRSM said schools “will not be allowed to become pitches of political conflict,” and criticised attempts to turn school infrastructure issues into partisan campaigns.The row stems from an incident in Jaipur where CJP workers, including party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, faced resistance from villagers while trying to inspect a government school without authorisation. The drive also included a demand for the resignation of state education minister Madan Dilawar.Speaking at a news conference in Kota on Saturday, ABRSM state vice president Puranmal Nagar said the attempted inspection by outsiders led to arguments and a physical scuffle. While saying the federation does not support violence “under any circumstances,” Nagar questioned why political parties were bringing schools into disputes and said complaints about facilities or administration should go through Education Department and state govt channels.Vice President, ABRSM primary education wing, Navalkishore Sharma said the state govt and education department were working on phased reforms to improve infrastructure. He said members of the public can visit schools only with formal permission from the head of the institution, and objected to using administrative orders for political pressure on teachers. “Teachers,” he said, are meant to shape students’ futures, not serve any political organisation.State media cell member Suresh Kumar Bairagi appealed to teachers, parents, villagers and public representatives to maintain peace and resolve disputes through legal and administrative processes. He said ABRSM’s teacher activists across 10,000 schools are working to improve physical and academic resources.Responding to questions, Bairagi said ABRSM has repeatedly written to the govt about education and facility gaps. “ABRSM is not here to defend govt or minister but to raise its voice against politicising the school ground for politically motivated people,” he said. He added that a recent order banning outsiders from entering schools also applies to the media.
