MP school teacher gets suspended for attending Bharat Jodo Yatra

Barwani/MP: Madhya Pradesh suspended a government school teacher for attending Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in the state Barwani district, PTI reported citing an official on Saturday.

The suspended teacher, Rajesh Kannoje, was working in a primary school under the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Department in Kanasya. He was suspended on November 25, a day after he attended the Yatra. The matter came to light after the suspension order appeared on social media.

Assistant Commissioner NS Raghuvanshi of the Tribal Affairs Department said, "Mr Kannoje was suspended for violation of service conduct rules and attending a political rally. He had sought leave citing important work, but he posted photographs on social media after attending a political event."

The suspension order said that Kannoje violated service conduct rules by attending Bharat Jodo Yatra being taken out by a political party on November 24.

However, state Congress media department chairperson K K Mishra pointed out that the BJP-led government here had allowed employees to take part in the shakhas of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The same government suspends a tribal, Rajesh Kannoje, for gifting 'tir-kaman' (bow and arrow) to Rahul Gandhi during a non-political march, he said.

Yatra arrived in Madhya Pradesh on November 23. It will enter Rajasthan on Sunday, December 4.