Sisodia's letter from Tihar jail calls for education as key to equality, empowerment
Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 May, 2023 12:13 PM
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Manish Sisodia, Delhi's former deputy chief minister and education minister, in a letter from Tihar Jail has emphasised the transformative power of education and the need to uplift the underprivileged sections of society.
The letter, which was shared on Twitter by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, emphasizes the crucial role of education in providing equal opportunities for every child.
Sisodia, through his letter which is written in Hindi, draws attention to the consequences of neglecting the education of the less fortunate, asserting that denying education to the impoverished not only perpetuates inequality but also fuels a vicious cycle of hatred and violence.
"If every impoverished individual is equipped with a book, who would remain to propagate hatred? If every person finds meaningful work to occupy their hands, who would resort to wielding swords on the streets?"
In his letter, Sisodia underscores the importance of a strong educational foundation in dismantling barriers and combating divisive ideologies. He believes that an educated society, built on knowledge and wisdom, holds the key to eradicating the illusion of hatred.
Sisodia further emphasizes that with the widespread access to quality education, the eventual demise of 'WhatsApp University' is inevitable.
"When society is built upon the solid foundation of education and wisdom, individuals will no longer be ensnared in the tangled web of hatred," the letter read.
Furthermore, Sisodia highlights the empowerment that education brings, particularly to the marginalised. He stresses the significance of providing tools such as pens to enable individuals to express their thoughts and aspirations freely.
He asserts that once education reaches every child in the society, it will challenge and scrutinise your cunningness and manipulative tactics.
"As the power of the pen reaches the hands of the underprivileged, they will fearlessly give voice to their deepest thoughts and beliefs," the letter further read.
"Regardless of whether you imprison us or subject us to punishment, this journey will persist. When every underprivileged child receives an education, your grand palace will be left empty and devoid of meaning," it added.
The accused were identified as Sukhvinder Singh Sahani (51) and his wife Sheetal Sahani (49). The couple was arrested on April 24, after an investigation was initiated into a complaint filed by Rashmi Batra.
Officials said that the ticketing squad at the Kongdoori station of Gulmarg Gondola caught 11 tourists from Gujarat along with a local guide, who had come to board the cable car from Kongdoori to Gulmarg on fake and edited tickets.
The police have also recovered over 300 kilograms of cannabis worth more than Rs 1 crore from them. The accused were identified as Pratap (45), a resident of Rampura in Delhi; Lakhan (23) and Pooran (22) - both residents of Okhla Mod.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, in a tweet, said: "As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, the following Additional Judges are appointed as Permanent Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court: Vikas Bahl, Vikas Suri, Sandeep Moudgil, Vinod Sharma (Bhardwaj), Pankaj Jain, and Jasjit Singh Bedi."
Throughout his political career, Badal, who had once compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to former US President Abraham Lincoln, had always expressed "immense satisfaction and pride" over the strong and principled stand taken by his party "to save the beleaguered peasantry and the country".
Special judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court will now pronounce the order on April 28. On April 18, he had reserved its decision on Sisodia's bail plea. The court had, a day before, extended Sisodia's judicial custody by two weeks in the case.
