MP: Sarpanch says not invited to I-Day event at school, alleges abuses by principal

Ahirwar has claimed, “She (school principal) says you’re Dalit, what do you know. Today, on Independence Day, I wasn’t invited to the school, and someone else was given the opportunity to hoist the flag, despite the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act giving me the right to hoist the flag.”

Ahirwar’s complaint to the local administration states that the “government high school principal, Shobha Shrivastav, did not allow him to unfurl the flag.”

“When I (the sarpanch) objected to this, the principal hurled caste-based abuses. On the one hand the country is celebrating Independence, and on the other hand, such caste-based discrimination is taking place against Dalits,” the complaint read.

In a video, which was reportedly taken outside the school, Ahirwar was met by the school administration who asked him to join the celebrations. A school official told him that they had called at his mobile phone number but he did not respond.

The local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Harshal Choudhary, has ordered a probe into the matter. “We have instructed the authorities at the panchayat-level to investigate it. If allegations of hurling caste-based abuses turn out to be true, action will be taken,” Choudhary said.

Panchayat Secretary, Amir Hamza, who was present at the scene, stated that “usually, the sarpanch hoists the flag at the panchayat building first, and then goes to the school to hoist the flag, after receiving proper notice”.

“However, the sarpanch alleges that he wasn’t informed this time. The school principal allowed someone else to hoist the Tricolour and the sarpanch remained at the panchayat building,” Hamza said.