As many as nine government teachers had to face suspension from their jobs in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Reason: they had gone to Vizianagaram on Sunday to take part in Praja Sankalpa Yatra, the marathon ‘padayatra’ being undertaken by YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
The teachers, belonging to Bhimili, Padmanabham, Anantagiri and Anandapuram mandals, went to Vizianagaram to submit a memorandum to Jagan asking for removal of the contributory pension scheme which has been in force in the state.
After taking a memorandum from them, Jagan said he would definitely take steps to do away with the scheme, as soon as the YSRC comes to power in the state and he became the chief minister.
The jubilant teachers, as part of thanksgiving gesture, walked along with Jagan for some distance and expressed their solidarity with him.
Reports in a section of media said the teachers had raised slogans in support of Jagan and said they would strive for his victory in the next elections.
Naturally the Chandrababu Naidu government got angry on seeing the reports.
Following instructions from the higher ups, district educational officer Lingeshwar Reddy issued orders suspending these nine teachers.
“As per the service rules, the government employees are not supposed to take part in any of the political rallies and programmes,” the DEO said.
