Keep politics out, teachers' body says after CJP team's school visit in Rajasthan

Teachers' Body Urges Schools Stay Free of Politics

Following a dispute between Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists and villagers in Rajasthan's Jaipur district, the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) has voiced strong opposition to the politicisation of schools. The teachers' body said educational institutions should not become "pitches of political conflict" and called for concerns to be raised through official channels.

The Incident and Reactions

The CJP team, including spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, attempted to inspect a government school in Rampura Kanwarpura village, alleging classes were being held in a shed previously used for buffaloes. Local villagers opposed the move, leading to an argument that escalated into verbal abuse and physical altercation. The CJP accused locals of being "BJP goons," while villagers filed counter-complaints. Both sides lodged FIRs against each other, accusing the other of assault and creating a ruckus.

Ranka alleged the attack was premeditated and claimed some of those involved had been seen with local BJP MLA Kailash Verma the previous night. Verma rejected the allegations and accused the CJP of conspiring with the Congress to obstruct development.

ABRSM, in statements to the press, said it does not support violence under any circumstances and does not condone the alleged assault. State Vice President Sanjeev Vyas, speaking at a press conference in Jodhpur, said violence cannot be a solution and that concerns about school management, facilities, teacher availability, or quality should be submitted through the Education Department and district administration.

Puranmal Nagar, ABRSM state vice president, said at a press conference in Kota that the attempted inspection by "external political workers triggered sharp opposition from local villagers." He questioned the rationale behind dragging school premises into biased disputes and said concerns should be routed through official channels.

Navalkishore Sharma, vice president of ABRSM's primary education wing, said members of the public could visit schools only after taking formal permission from the institution head. He said using administrative orders as political leverage or pressuring educators was unacceptable, adding: "Teachers exist to shape the future of students, not to advance the agenda of any political organization."

ABRSM state media cell member Suresh Kumar Bairagi appealed for peace and resolution through legal and administrative means. He noted that ABRSM-linked teacher activists across 10,000 government schools in Rajasthan were working to improve resources, and that a recent order restricting entry of outsiders applies to the media as well. Bairagi said: "ABRSM is not here to defend the government or the minister, but to raise its voice against politicising school grounds for political motives."

The federation emphasised that rules restricting school entry should apply equally to everyone and not be selectively enforced. It also expressed support for government guidelines aimed at preventing external and political interference, and for education reforms by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Education Minister Madan Dilawar.

Government Data on School Infrastructure

Amid the controversy, government data revealed that 611 state-run schools in Rajasthan lack their own buildings, 2,047 lack toilets for students, and 1,049 lack drinking water facilities. The data, released a day after the CJP incident, came in response to an unstarred question by Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Julie. Of the 611 schools without buildings, 10 are girls' schools; Jaipur has 38 such schools. Block-wise, Aklera in Jhalawar has the highest number at 23, followed by Khanpur with 16, and Jhalrapatan and Phalodi with 11 each.

The data, based on 2025-26 U-DISE figures under the Samagra Shiksha framework, prompted a government response. The government said arrangements are being made for drinking water and alternative toilet facilities. It has earmarked Rs 550 crore for repair and renovation and Rs 450 crore for constructing buildings for schools without premises or operating from dilapidated structures. A Finance Department meeting held on March 13-14 prepared a roadmap to mobilise Rs 2,500 crore annually, with a total outlay of over Rs 12,500 crore over five years, for school building construction, repair, and maintenance.

The Rampura Kanwarpura school was temporarily shifted to a house on Saturday. The teachers' body's stance underscores a broader call for educational institutions to remain neutral grounds, with the federation saying teachers would oppose anyone entering a school if the visit had not been authorised through the prescribed process.