Teachers threaten stir against minister for hurling ‘abuses’

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 8

In the aftermath of the alleged profane language used by Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, various teachers’ unions have decided to hold protests in the state against him.

Teachers said they would wear black ribbon on Monday as a mark of their protest.

On Saturday, Education Minister had allegedly used some ‘swear words’ against the protesting teachers in Barnala while talking to a police office on his way to attend a function there.

Taking a dig at the minister, the teachers said the language used by the minister showed the intention and attitude of the state government towards the teachers.

Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), a teacher union, said the minister should apologise to the protesting teachers for using such words.

Davinder Punia, state president, said, “We strongly condemn the incident. It is very unfortunate to see an Education Minister of a state using abusive language for the teachers. He should immediately resign from his post.”

Meanwhile, SSA/RMSA Teachers’ Union already announced to hold a protest and burn the effigy of the minister on December 10 and 11. Hardeep Toderpur, president, SSA/RMSA Teachers’ Union, said, “I think his behaviour was unbecoming of any civilised citizen. Not only he should apologise to the teachers for using such language, he should also resign from his post.”

Denying the allegations, Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, while talking to The Tribune, said, “I didn’t have any interaction with the protesting teachers on Saturday. I was going to attend the function to discuss the education system in the state with 100 best private schoolteachers of Malwa.”

He said he asked the DSP to tackle the menace of drugs in the area. “Someone related it with the teachers. We are doing our best possible for teachers to bring changes to the system,” he added.