Nikhil Anand, National General Secretary of BJP OBC Morcha, condemned the department's actions, describing them as a violation of religious freedom and demanding strict action against the responsible officials
Tensions have flared in Bihar as a senior BJP leader and Union minister, Giriraj Singh, has accused the state's education department of treating government teachers like "bonded laborers" and "terrorizing" them by denying holidays during the Holi festivities. Singh, who is seeking re-election from the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, released a strong statement following the department's warning that absent teachers from a week-long training workshop would face a pay cut.
In a video statement shared on X, Singh expressed his dismay at the department's decision, stating that teachers should not be compelled to attend training during Holi. Despite the Bihar government declaring holidays on March 26 and 27 for Holi, and March 29 for Good Friday, the ongoing training program has sparked controversy.
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) defended its stance, emphasizing the importance of the training for all government teachers. However, the move has faced criticism from various quarters, including the BJP and teachers' associations.
Nikhil Anand, National General Secretary of BJP OBC Morcha, condemned the department's actions, describing them as a violation of religious freedom and demanding strict action against the responsible officials. Raju Singh, convener of TET Primary Teachers’ Association, called for the immediate withdrawal of the circular, citing its impact on the religious sentiments of teachers. Despite objections, the SCERT has stood firm on its decision, arguing that postponing the training would disrupt educational activities.