MP cracks down on agitating teachers

[related-post]

About 30 representatives were taken into police custody after the Sangh’s fourth round of talks with the officials of the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) failed to arrive at a solution on Thursday. The sangh office-bearers accused the state government of tricking them into a meeting and detaining them after it was over.

The government, however, justified the action saying the agitating teachers had given a call for a march to the CM’s residence on Friday and could have created a law and order situation if they were allowed to trickle into Bhopal on the occasion of Eid.

The government also argued that the Madhya Pradesh High Court had declared the fortnight-long agitation by teachers illegal and had asked them to return to work immediately.

There are nearly two lakh such teachers and it would be a huge financial burden on the exchequer if all their demands are fulfilled, the government said.

After taking 17 office-bearers into custody, the state government instructed collectors and superintendents of police to detain teachers on way to Bhopal.

Eventually, no rally could be taken out in Bhopal where the police were deployed at all entry points. Several teachers were detained at railway stations and bus stands. The agitating teachers claimed that 5,000 arrests were made in Bhopal alone and more than 50,000 across the state.

The chief minister said he was ready to meet the agitating teachers provided they resumed work.