Bhagwant Mann's visit drew criticism from opposition leaders
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with Arvind Kejriwal for company, visited schools in the national capital on Monday to learn the "Delhi model" and replicate it in his home state.
"This is next-level education. Something which can't be thought of by big schools has been implemented by government schools. Digital education is taking place. There is collaboration with big companies. I've seen such schools in America-Canada but not in India." Mr Mann said during his visit to one of the schools.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), before coming to power in Punjab, had promised to improve the condition of schools and hospitals in the state on the lines of its work in Delhi.
However, the visit drew criticism from opposition leaders, with both the Congress and the Akali Dal slamming the visit as "political drama" and a "photo op".
Congress leaders Navjot Singh Sidhu, Amarinder Singh Raja and the Akali Dal's Daljit Singh Cheema posted scathing messages on Twitter.
Amarinder Singh Raja wrote, "In the last one month, 14 farmers of Punjab died by suicide under the AAP government. How many of these 14 farmer families did you meet @BhagwantMann sir? You go to Delhi again and again. Hope you are not trying to bring Delhi's failed #Corona fighting model here? Will the government run from Delhi like this for 5 years?"
The AAP-led government in Punjab had earlier come under fire from the opposition after Mr Kejriwal had held a meeting with senior officers from Punjab.
While Mr Mann had said that he had sent the officers to the capital for "training", the opposition parties had charged that his government was being run through "remote control" from Delhi.
"If needed, for training purposes, I will send my officers to Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and even Israel. Why should anyone object to that. They (Delhi government) are specialists in education, power, health. Why shouldn't I send the officers?" Bhagwant Mann had then told reporters.
Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited schools and mohalla clinics of the Kejriwal government in Delhi.