In a heart-wrenching incident from Surat, Gujarat, a Class 8 student allegedly took her life after being denied the opportunity to sit for an internal exam due to unpaid school fees. The tragic incident has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders, with AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government of negligence, describing the death as “murder” rather than suicide.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kejriwal expressed his outrage, stating, “This is not suicide, but murder. This innocent girl has been killed by the greed of the education mafia nurtured by the BJP.” He further accused the Gujarat government of allowing an “education mafia” to thrive at the expense of the poor, saying that their 30-year rule in the state has led to such unfortunate tragedies.
Kejriwal continued to criticize the BJP for creating a system where poor children are left vulnerable to exploitation by such education mafias. He also linked this issue to the BJP’s ongoing opposition to free education in Delhi, a policy Kejriwal has championed, asserting that the BJP’s actions could deprive children across India of their right to free education.
“This is a system that kills the dreams of poor children,” Kejriwal added. “In the Prime Minister’s home state, the BJP has allowed such practices to fester, and now, they want to end free education in Delhi. I will not let this happen.”
Chandra Shekhar Azad, the MP of the Azad Samaj Party, also condemned the tragic death, referring to it as a disturbing example of the commercialization of education. Azad highlighted the torment the girl underwent, as she was allegedly humiliated and subjected to cruel punishment for not being able to pay her fees. This abuse led to severe mental trauma, which Azad claims played a direct role in her suicide.
The MP wrote on X, “A Dalit girl student of a private school in Surat was humiliated in front of other children for not paying her fees due to financial constraints. She was forced to sit on the floor for long hours and was even punished by standing near the toilet. This mental and physical abuse pushed her to take her own life.”
Azad further emphasized the gravity of the incident, calling it a warning to the nation about the urgent need for a discussion on the commercialization of education. He urged that every girl deserves not just education, but also respect, and that urgent action must be taken to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
This shocking incident has sparked an outcry among citizens and political leaders alike, demanding accountability and reforms in the education system, particularly around fee structures and student rights.