Bhopal: A government primary school teacher in Madhya Pradesh has been suspended after a video showing him mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi while commenting on rising LPG cylinder prices went viral on social media, officials said.
The teacher, identified as Saket Purohit, was posted at a government primary school in Semarkhedi village under the Pohri block of Shivpuri district. The suspension order was issued late on Friday following a preliminary inquiry by the district education department.
According to officials, the action was taken after a complaint was filed by BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi, who alleged that the teacher’s mimicry of the Prime Minister and his remarks on public issues violated the conduct rules applicable to government employees and sent an inappropriate message.
The video, reportedly around a minute long, showed Purohit imitating the Prime Minister’s speaking style while making satirical remarks about the increase in LPG prices. In the clip, he suggested that rising cooking gas prices could push people back to using traditional stoves, which he jokingly said might reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.
Following the complaint, the district education officer ordered a probe and found that the act amounted to indiscipline and a violation of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Conduct Rules. The teacher was subsequently suspended and attached to the Block Education Officer’s office in Badarwas during the suspension period. He will receive a subsistence allowance as per rules.
Reacting to the action, Purohit claimed that the decision was one-sided and that he was not given a show-cause notice or an opportunity to present his explanation. He said the suspension without a hearing was unjustified.
