Thousands of third-grade teachers in Rajasthan have continued their protest in Jaipur, demanding a clear transfer policy and immediate action on long-pending transfer requests. The demonstration, which began as a peaceful sit-in at Shaheed Smarak, has now turned into a larger movement, with teachers also calling for the resignation of Education Minister Madan Dilawar.
The protest has attracted attention after demonstrators adopted an unusual method to avoid confrontation with police, drawing comparisons with recent student protests.
Teachers Sing National Anthem as Police Arrive
On Wednesday evening, police officials reached the protest site to persuade demonstrators to end the sit-in.
As officers approached, the protesting teachers stood up and began singing the national anthem. The move was similar to a protest strategy recently seen during demonstrations by Gen-Z students, where participants sang the anthem to discourage police action.
The moment quickly drew attention on social media and became one of the most talked-about scenes from the ongoing protest.
Protesters Accuse Administration of Pressure Tactics
Teachers alleged that the administration attempted to force them to end the protest by creating difficulties at the demonstration site.
According to the protesters, electricity supply was disconnected, drinking water arrangements were stopped and access to toilets was restricted. They claimed these measures caused significant inconvenience, especially for women teachers participating in the protest.
Despite these allegations, the teachers said they would continue their sit-in until their demands were addressed.
Meeting With Education Minister Fails to Break Deadlock
Late on Wednesday night, a delegation of teachers met Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar to discuss the issue.
After the meeting, the minister described the discussions as positive and said the government was taking the matter seriously.
However, protesting teachers said they were no longer satisfied with verbal assurances. They insisted that only a formal decision on transfers would end the protest.
Teachers Now Seek CM’s Intervention
The protesters are now demanding direct talks with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. They have also called for the resignation of Education Minister Madan Dilawar, holding him responsible for the prolonged delay in resolving the transfer issue.
The sit-in at Shaheed Smarak continued on Thursday as teachers vowed to remain at the protest site until the government announced a concrete solution.
Teacher Issues Self-Immolation Warning
During the protest, one teacher issued a warning that drew serious attention.
Ganpat Choudhary, a teacher from Jodhpur currently posted in Dholpur, said he had been separated from his family because of his posting. He claimed that if no decision was taken by Thursday evening, he would be forced to take the extreme step of self-immolation.
Authorities have not commented on the statement.
Government Says Transfer Policy Is Being Prepared
Speaking to the media, Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the government was working on a comprehensive transfer policy for teachers across Rajasthan.
He said the proposal would be discussed with the Chief Minister before being placed before the state Cabinet for approval. Once cleared, the policy would be implemented across the state.
The minister expressed hope that the issue would be resolved through dialogue, but teachers have maintained that they will continue protesting until an official decision is announced.