Himachal teachers observe ‘black day’ over IPH Minister Mahender Singh’s remark

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 6

Government college teachers today observed ‘black day’ across the state to condemn IPH Minister Mahender Singh’s statement and also wore black badges while performing exam duties.

They also passed a resolution and sent its copies to the Chief Minister from all colleges expressing their resentment over the humiliating statement and requested him to take stringent action against the minister.

“It is regrettable and painful that the seniormost minister in the Cabinet has made such an irresponsible statement on the teaching community publicly. The incident has lowered the morale of teachers, who have worked hard during the pandemic and were engaged in online teaching, besides performing other activities,” the resolution reads.

Himachal Government College Teachers Association president Dharamvir Singh and general secretary RL Sharma stated, “We hope that the Chief Minister will respect the feeling of the teachers and will set an example by punishing the minister, who has created trouble for the government.”

A video of Mahender Singh had gone viral, in which he is heard saying “masteron ne to maja kiya” (teachers enjoyed during the pandemic) and became frontline workers to get vaccinated.

President of the Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission Ravi Kumar Dalit also sat on a dharna at The Ridge in protest against the minister and sought his resignation.

Meanwhile, the IPH Minister today said that his remark on teachers was made in a lighter vein and if they are feeling hurt, he apologises to them. “I had no intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments, least of all of teachers. The statement made at Banjar in Kullu was in a lighter vein,” the minister said. He added that he takes back his words if it has hurt teachers’ sentiments.