AAP makes possible things that are impossible for BJP, Congress: Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday presented a Rs 69,000 crore budget for 2021-22 in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Themed as the “Deshbhakti Budget” this is Delhi’s first e-budget. From free vaccines for Delhi residents to the world’s first virtual school, the budget includes several plans for the national capital. The Sunday Guardian spoke to Manish Sisodia about this budget, MCD elections, and several other issues. Excerpts:

Q. The Rs 69,000 crore budget comprises a variety of proposals and plans. But the Opposition parties are calling the budget “hollow”, “directionless” and “visionless”. According to you, why this criticism?

A: The job of the Opposition is to see things critically. But as a government, the proposals and initiatives we have launched, especially in health and education, and in basic infrastructural amenities like water, electricity, or road, are done in a way that should happen in the national capital. We have done this for the past 5-6 years and we will continue to do so. Whatever we are doing, the results are there and the public is happy with our work. So, that’s why we are doing all these things.

Q: From this academic session, the Delhi government is planning to launch the “Deshbhakti Curriculum”. What is the objective behind this curriculum?

What will be included in this curriculum?

A: Why do we provide education to our children? We don’t educate them just to make them a good engineer, a doctor, an advocate, or a journalist. We educate them so they become a good human or a good citizen. The path towards being a good citizen is in darkness. We see so many educated people doing atrocities towards women or society. There is so much negativity towards caste, or