Sisodia prays at Patiala temple for ‘fight against drugs’

Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab affairs incharge Manish Sisodia on Sunday offered prayers at the Patiala’s Kali Mata temple on the first day of Navratras and said he sought blessings from the deity for his party’s government to end the drug menace in the state.

The visit came days after he was made the Punjab affairs incharge by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a position he held till 2020 amid internal squabbling in the outfit. Prior to his appointment, school visits by him in the state had stoked a controversy as these were seen as an interference in the Punjab affairs.

AAP credits Sisodia with revolutionising Delhi’s school education when he held the charge of the department there before being arrested by Central probe agencies for corruption linked to the 2020-21 Delhi excise policy that was rolled back following widespread criticism.

During the visit to the temple, Sisodia was accompanied by Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh.

“This is not just a festival. Navratras is a spiritual journey. These nine days are when we connect deeply with the divine energies within us and find the strength to overcome challenges,” Sisodia said.

“The blessings of Maa Kali empower us to fight modern-day demons like drug addiction. With her divine guidance, Punjab will soon be free from this menace,” he added.

Sisodia said the AAP government has undertaken a vigorous campaign to tackle drug addiction. “Without divine blessings, fighting such a deep-rooted problem is impossible,” he said.

Sisodia also shared personal experience from his visit to government schools.

“Yesterday, I attended a parent-teacher meeting (at a school) and interacted with students. I learnt that many parents are now withdrawing their children from private schools to admit them to government schools because of remarkable improvements. This is nothing short of an educational revolution,” he claimed.