Uttarakhand-Principal suspended for 'abusing' CM sahab, now being assured justice
Days after suspending a school principal for "abusing" the CM, the BJP government in Uttarakhand has now reached out to Uttara Pant Bahuguna, assuring support. School Education Minister Arvind Pandey "promised me to meet on July 3 after he will return on July 2. He assured me justice," the principal said. Bahuguna, who had demanded a transfer to Dehradun, was charged with indecent behavior.
What really happened at the 'Janata Durbar'?
On June 28, Bahuguna was at a 'Janta Darbar' where CM Trivendra Singh Rawat was in attendance. The principal of Government Primary School in Uttarkashi requested for a transfer: her husband had died recently, she said, but nothing had been done despite her repeated requests. Rawat said transfers would happen according to the Transfer Act, but when she continued speaking, he lost his cool.
Arrested, released hours later, suspended
The CM then ordered police to "suspend her immediately. Arrest her." "I lost my husband in 2015. I can't leave my children. I spoke to the Chief Minister but he did nothing. I asked him the reason. He suddenly raised his hand and said you are a teacher, behave yourself," a crying Bahuguna later said. She was arrested and bailed out hours later.
The viral video of the episode
In the meantime, activist raises questions on Rawat's wife's postings
Incidentally, Rawat's wife has been serving as a government school teacher in Dehradun for 22 years without any transfer, despite a promotion in 2008, something activist Raghunath Singh Negi termed "strange." Negi, who had filed an RTI on Sunita Rawat's transfer and postings, added that Bahuguna attending the Janta Darbar can't be a valid reason for suspension, like the order had stated.
Opposition, teachers' associations come out in her support
Demanding Bahuguna's reinstatement, state Congress President Pritam Singh accused Rawat of behaving like a king. Twitterati stood up for her too. "@tsrawatbjp should apologise to her publicly," said @UnitedIndian15. "Cant catch rapist n hang murders...but very candid in ordering school teacher's arrest," posted @DwarikaNautiyal. "It's a shame to witness the sensitivity of BJP towards a woman. I feel disgraced to have supported BJP," wrote @Chandrika_Mukut.
'This is the price CM and government need to pay'
Defending the CM, BJP spokesperson Munna Singh Chauhan had said that Rawat had asked "to look into the (transfer) the same day." But Bahuguna said, "After all the insult I have faced, this (criticism) is the price the CM and his government need to pay."
