Dehradun: After a a video of a widowed teacher being ill-treated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivedendra Singh Rawat went viral, an RTI query revealed that the CM’s wife, also a teacher has not been transferred for last 22 years enjoying the plum posting.
An RTI inquiry has been filed by RTI activist Praveen Sharma regarding the posting of Rawat’s wife Sunita Rawat revealed that Sunita is currently posted in school in Dehradun’s Ajabpur Kalan since 1996 despite receiving a promotion in 2008.
AN RTI query reveals that #Uttarakhand CM TS Rawat's wife Sunita Rawat is posted in a school in Dehradun's Ajabpur Kalan since 1996 even after she received promotion in 2008. CM had ordered suspension of a teacher after she argued with him in Janta Darbar y'day over her transfer. pic.twitter.com/yYTfMnpXLH
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2018
During a Janata Darbar session on Thursday, 57-year-old teacher Uttara Bahuguna after her husband’s death requested for a transfer from a remote location where she was posted for last 25 years. But Rawat had ordered the immediate suspension. She was also arrested on charges of “disrupting an important gathering” but let off on Thursday evening.
The video of the incident, has been doing the rounds, shows Rawat lost his cool and shouted at arguing Bahuguna, “Suspend karo ise abhi (Suspend her immediately). Take her into police custody.”
“I lost my husband in 2015 and my children stay here (Dehradun). I can’t leave my children here,” Ms Bahuguna said breaking down.
“You can see in the video. He got angry when I demanded justice. I feel helpless. Is this what I get for working honestly and diligently for years? So I called them thieves. I will tell the truth even if god comes before me.
On Friday, Rawat faced social media roastings.
Journalist Saikat Dutta wrote, “BJP CM Rawat of Uttarkhand got a teacher suspended and arrested for seeking a transfer after 25 years. His wife, also a teacher, has been in Dehradun for 22 years, reveals RTI. Irony jumped off a cliff again.”
User Dinesh Vimal wrote, “She is CM’s wife so rules. they bend rules or will not obey rules. Rules are for only poor people” Another user Rashmi wrote, “Shame on y CM. Yr wife must get an transfer within next 48 hr if really posted for 8 years.”
Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia tweeted, “A teacher who asked for a transfer to Dehradun after 25Yrs was denied By Utrakhand CM,suspended &arrested for shouting.A teacher Sunita Rawat was transferred from a tough region within 4Yrs &has been in Dehradun since 22 years as she is W/O BJP CM Rawat.”
A teacher who asked for a transfer to Dehradun after 25Yrs was denied By Utrakhand CM,suspended &arrested for shouting.A teacher Sunita Rawat was transferred from a tough region within 4Yrs &has been in Dehradun since 22 years as she is W/O BJP CM Rawat! https://t.co/lWiNKhTT3v
— Arjun Modhwadia (@arjunmodhwadia) June 29, 2018
RTI activist Praveen said that he had initially faced a lot of difficulties obtaining the information, but the answer he got eventually was quite shocking.
“We asked Uttarakhand CM about the posting of his wife. Earlier, they responded indirectly but after we appealed, their answer was quite shocking for us as she is posted in Dehradun for the last 22 years,” Praveen said.
“After huge struggle, we got his wife documents and we are ready to give it. But he is Uttarakhand CM and he can do anything,” he added.
Praveen further accused Sunita Rawat of buying huge acres of land and, therefore, demanded a proper investigation into the matter.
“She has brought huge acres of land in Uttarakhand. We want court to investigate from where did she bought huge property. We want governor to take action against his wife. It is a matter of concern, as no employee can buy any property without providing information to the concern department,” Praveen said.
“They are corrupt and showing their anger on general public which is wrong,” he added.
ANI inputs