Chandigarh:
Two wrong spellings on charts in a Punjab classroom were all it took to ignite a full-blown verbal spat between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The row kicked off after Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains took to X to defend the quality of education and school infrastructure under AAP rule.
Refuting the BJP and SAD’s claims that a school in Punjab’s Fazilka lacked a roof, he attached photos of the classrooms.
“Here’s the real status of GPS Basti Hazoor Singh, Fazilka: we get our school buildings checked regularly, and a special review was done after the 2025 floods. In that exercise, 3 rooms were found unfit and declared unsafe on 08.12.2025. Dismantling was ordered immediately,” he wrote on X.
The SAD and BJP were, however, quick to point out the two spelling errors — ‘vegitables’ and ‘dear’.
The SAD resorted to sarcasm to attack the minister and the government.
“If this is what is being taught in government schools in Punjab. No wonder over 6 lakh students have dropped out of government schools since 2022. Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Bains is showing clear signs of brain fog. Maybe he should try eating the right ‘VEGITABLES’! ‘DEER’ Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal, now that the ‘Sikhiya Scam’ of AAP has been COMPLETELY EXPOSED, kindly share your valuable inputs. Your puppets here are struggling and making one PR faux pas after another,” he wrote on X.
If this is what is being taught in Govt schools in Punjab, No wonder over 6 lakh students have dropped out from Govt schools since 2022.
Punjab’s Education Minister @harjotbains is showing clear signs of brain fog. Maybe he should try eating the right ‘VEGITABLES’!
‘DEER’… https://t.co/6w8lV86NHz pic.twitter.com/pPIJYVG0tG
— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) August 24, 2026
BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked the AAP.
“Such commitment to education! Punjab’s Education Minister has posted a photo of a school where the board itself exposes the state of education: “Dear” instead of “Deer.” “Vegitables” instead of “Vegetables.” When even basic English spelling is wrong on a school board, perhaps the AAP government should focus less on photo-ops and propaganda and more on the quality of education in Punjab,” he wrote on X.
Bains attributed the row to the BJP and SAD’s alleged “hate” for Punjab and Punjabis.
“First your IT cell dug up old videos and old news, because you all hate Punjab — you’re all anti-Punjab. Now you’ve zoomed in on a classroom poster. I’m glad Punjab’s schools have your undivided attention. Since you’re counting spelling errors — here’s some real data: Punjab is now No. 1 in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026, up from 27th, ahead of Kerala. 19,000+ government schools upgraded, thousands of new classrooms built, students who once sat on the floor now given desks,” he replied on X.
Thank you for your concern, Amit ji, Badal Sab, and others.
First your IT cell dug up old videos and old news, because you all hate Punjab — you’re all anti-Punjab. Now you’ve zoomed in on a classroom poster. I’m glad Punjab’s schools have your undivided attention.
Since you’re… https://t.co/Ln5n9Ukb0W
— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) August 24, 2026
“I’m loving it, though – your hatred for Punjab is my motivation. Keep zooming in on posters. We’ll keep fixing schools – buildings, boards, spellings, and results, all of it. Education is not a photo-op for us; it’s a mission & my passion,” he added.
