Infighting in Congress ahead of chief minister's visit

PUNE: Ahead of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's visit to the city on Sunday, for the inauguration of Rajiv Gandhi Academy of e-learning, the city Congress factions have locked horns over supporting the initiative.
The PMC's ambitious project to provide free education to poor students through e-learning has been caught in trouble with the Congress-led school board creating hurdles in the functioning of the project.The English medium school is located in Sahakarnagar.
Corporator Aba Bagul, who initiated the project, said about 1,500 students have already been enrolled in classes junior KG till VII. The classes will further be extended till X. Another prominent feature of the school is its affiliation to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
However, the school board dominated by the Congress, is not cooperating with the civic administration and its own corporator. The tender to provide meals to students were blocked for months. Now, they have held back the salaries of the principal and vice principals. Children have not received adequate education material, uniform or shoes.
Chief minister Chavan will formally inaugurate the school on Sunday, but still the Congress-headed school board is not ready to budge an inch in and provide helping hand.
No Congress leaders including Bagul, was ready to comment on the issue when asked by reporters.
Recently, Bagul had stated that the Congress high command will seek clarification from school board for hampering the smooth functioning of the school.