We have always been taught that democracy is ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’, but today the scenario in the 21st century have totally reversed. Politicians have mistaken themselves with tyrant ruler who can give orders rather than being a public servant and working for the society. Should common citizens stop hoping for a better India? Should they get used to of all the miss-happenings around the nation? There are many bold and drastic decisions which have been taken by the government which directly or indirectly affects the lives of the common people from neglecting to cultivating the south and to making the adhaar card the prime source of identity, every bit of it was faced by the public. Now another case joins the league where a school teacher in Uttarakhand was ordered to be arrested on her plea as simple as that of transfer! Before getting into the details, let us ponder on a wider question. Is democracy for the people or against the people?
SOBBING FOR HUMANITY
On June 28, Uttara Bahuguna, a 57 year old teacher of a government primary school in Naugaon area of Uttarkashi district, requested Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Trivendra Rawat, that she be transferred from the remote location. She claimed she has been posted in such locations for the last 25 years. But Trivendra Rawat in return instructed the police to immediately arrest her and ordered her suspension during a Janata Darbar session in Dehradun accusing her of using abusive language and showing indecency in front of Rawat in conversation with the CM regarding her plea of transfer.
QUITE A SHOW
A dramatic quarrel busted out in the “Janata Darbar” as when Rawat declined her request, Bahuguna began arguing and debating with him. Uttarakhand CM lost his cool and shouted several times into the microphone: “Suspend karo ise abhi (Suspend her immediately). Take her into police custody.”
A video of the incident shared on social media shows Bahuguna leaving the Janata Darbar hurling abuses at the Chief Minister before being taken into custody under Section 151 of the CrPC. Because of which Rawat faced criticism on social media for losing his cool with Uttarakhand Congress leaders objecting to the Chief Minister’s “rude behaviour, and lack of patience”. She was released in the evening.
NO NEED TO EXPLAIN..
After the incident, Rawat explained that request for transfers must not be brought to a platform meant for hearing public grievances. He said that suspension orders were issued for Bahuguna for “showing disrespect and using abusive language” during the Janata Darbar.
“All transfers of government employees will be done under the state’s Transfer Act”-Trivendra Singh Rawat.
“I have no problem in doing my job, but I’ve been posted in remote areas for 25 years. Before the Uttarkashi village, I was posted in a remote area in Uttarkashi district’s Chinyalisaur. My husband used to take care of my two children, but after his death in August last year there is no one to take care of my children. Also, I am too old to work in remote areas.”- Bahuguna
NOT THE FIRST EVER
This whole incident remind us of the case which took place few months back where on January 6, 2018 Pandey, who had been in the transport business for the past five years, blamed the Trivendra Rawat-led government and the Centre for loss in business due to demonetization and GST. BJP minister Subodh Uniyal was hearing people’s problems at a Janata Darbar when Pandey entered the office consuming poison.
“Mujhe pareshan kar diya hai sarkar ne. Mai karzdaar ho gaya hoon GST aur notebandi k baad (The government has put me in trouble. I’m under debt due to demonetisation and GST),” a crying Pandey told Uniyal during the Janata Darbar meeting. “Since the past five months I’m trying to approach the government, but the CM is useless…he doesn’t listen to anyone. There are many people like me (who are debt-ridden due to demonetisation and GST)… I won’t live now. I’ve consumed poison”–Pandey
“JANATA DARBAR” OR “RAJ DARBAR”
It’s difficult to understand the helpless teacher, Bahuguna’s fault. Was it she being in continuous trouble for 25 long years? Forced to be separated from her family, she lost her husband in the entire tough journey! And, to add further to her woes is not even being paid by the govt. since August last year. Is pleading to be with one’s own children a crime? Or arguing for one’s rights is non-legitimate? And she being rewarded with the suspension orders openly in the public “Darbar” that too by the one who doesn’t even holds an authority to propagate such orders! We fail to understand..