‘Harassed because of my caste’: Dalit govt teacher suspended in BJP-ruled Rajasthan state
Jaipur: In a case highlighting the pervasive nature of caste-based discrimination in India, the Hindutva BJP government in Rajasthan state has suspended a Dalit teacher over the false charge of hurting religious sentiments.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Dalit teacher, Hemlata Bairwa, posted at government primary school in Lakdai village in Baran district’s Kishanganj block, was suspended, a day after the state’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar announced action against her at a public function in Kishanganj.
As per The Hindu, the teacher, who put up pictures of Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule, at a function on January 26, reportedly “refused to place a painting of Goddess Saraswati on the stage.” Reportedly, Bairwa, refused to be cowed down when some villagers tried to pressure her.
Bairwa in a media interview said that she was being harassed only because of her caste. “It was Republic Day and I was doing my duty as per the constitution. At first two teachers of the school, Hansraj Sain and Bhupendra Sain pressurised me to worship Saraswati. Then they left and returned later with more villagers who started harassing me. They abused me with casteist slurs. Now, I have been suspended ….. I am being harassed only because I am from the scheduled caste,” Bairwa said. She Bairwa also slammed minister Dilawar for announcing her suspension at the public meeting.
The suspension of the Dalit teacher comes close on the heels of similar action against three Muslim teachers in Kota district on allegations of “religious conversion.” Muslim organisations and even some school students have protested the action by the education department, as directed by Dilawar, who has a RSS background.
In both cases, the respective communities said that action was taken without proper enquiry.
Meanwhile, various people including MLAs, writers, professors, advocates, and others have come out in support of Bairwa demanding justice for her and condemning the minister.
Tika Ram Jully, a Congress MLA, and Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, said: “I condemn the dirty politics of BJP in the temple of education in the state. The Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar has shown himself to be the biggest Sanghi of the country by suspending the Dalit teacher Hemlata Bairwa. The BJP government is continuously showing the proof of being anti-Dalit through such shameful acts”.
