Teacher suspended for mimicking PM Modi on gas prices:BJP MLA’s complaint triggers action; Shivpuri primary teacher calls move one-sided

Making a mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising LPG cylinder prices proved costly for a teacher in Shivpuri district. After a complaint from BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi, the District Education Officer suspended teacher Saket Purohit. The case is from Government Primary School Adivasi Mohalla Semarkhed (Cluster Centre Bairad) in Pohri block, where Saket Purohit is posted as a primary teacher. Purohit had recently made a video in which he mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi while commenting on rising gas cylinder prices. The video went viral on social media and the matter reached the authorities. Teacher Saket Purohit said he was suspended without being heard. “No notice was issued to me and my side was not heard. One-sided action has been taken,” he said. Know what the teacher said in his video In the video, while mimicking the Prime Minister, the teacher said: “My dear brothers and sisters, did gas prices decrease or not? They did not. Did gas prices increase or not? They increased. Gas prices increased because eating roti cooked on gas also creates gas in the stomach.” He further said that if people develop stomach problems, the country will fall sick. Therefore, with higher gas prices, both the rich and the poor will cook food on traditional stoves, which will reduce the gap between them. After being suspended, teacher says action is one-sided After the suspension order, Saket Purohit said the decision was taken without giving him an opportunity to present his side. MLA Pritam Lodhi had complained BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi from Pichhore had complained to the District Education Officer about the video. In the complaint, the teacher was accused of making objectionable comments while mimicking a public representative. The MLA said the video was sending a wrong message to society and violated government service conduct rules. Lodhi said action was necessary to correct such behaviour so that others do not repeat it. Action for violating civil service conduct rules After examining the complaint, the District Education Officer found that the teacher’s act violated rules related to the conduct of government employees. Action was taken under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services rules and Saket Purohit was suspended with immediate effect. During the suspension period, his headquarters has been fixed at the office of the Block Education Officer in Badarwas. He will receive subsistence allowance as per rules. The District Education Officer has directed officials to ensure compliance with the order.