Auraiya (UP), Feb. 12: A temporary teacher in a primary school at Naunikpur was sacked allegedly for approaching the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Ms Mayawati, with a personal petition while the latter was on a visit there.
Ms Preeti Pandey was dismissed as a Siksha Mitra for breaching the CM’s security cordon; and not “taking interest in educational activities”, officials said.
On February 6 Ms Mayawati was about to enter her car after completing her visit when she was approached by Ms Pandey with a plea seeking help for her sister-in-law, who was allegedly being harassed by her in-laws.
“Don’t give it to me,” was Ms Mayawati’s curt response to Ms Pandey’s request. An official with Ms Mayawati received her petition, but, according to Ms Pandey, only to be sacked a few days later.
“I have been sacked because I gave my petition to Behnji. My sister-in-law threatened that she will commit suicide if I do not give the complaint... I had no option,” Mr Pandey said.
The basic education officer, Mr Raj Bahadur, said there were many complaints against Ms Pandey.
It was during the same visit that the infamous “shoe cleaning incident” occurred: a DSP-rank security officer of Ms Mayawati bent low and cleaned her shoes when it got soiled.