Bawankule says threats to sack teachers over Congress vote will be probed, denies naming institution

Nagpur: Revenue Minister and Amravati district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Monday, while speaking to the media, that he had received complaints that teachers were being threatened with dismissal if they did not vote for the Congress in the Amravati division teachers' constituency election. According to him, the complaints will be investigated at the appropriate time. He warned that attempts to win votes by intimidating teachers would not be tolerated.

Bawankule alleged that educational institutions receive grants from the government, yet people from some institutions are pressuring teachers. He said teachers should not fear any threat and should vote transparently and of their own free will. He made it clear that teachers would not be allowed to face injustice.

On the Shivaji Shikshan Sanstha, Bawankule said he had not named the institution at all. According to him, he has full respect for the institution and was himself a student there. He said he too had contributed to the growth of the institution's work. But he objects if the institution's posts or name are being misused for political gain.

He expressed hope that the institution, known by the name of Maharshi Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh, would follow his ideals. According to Bawankule, complaints have come that some people in the institution are threatening teachers to get them to vote for the Congress, and these will be investigated. He said threatening to sack employees is wrong and should not be taken as the institution's official decision. He said that if anyone is doing wrong in the name of the institution, action should be taken against them. He also asked why Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Harshwardhan Deshmukh felt so offended when he had not named the institution.

Bawankule expressed confidence that the Mahayuti would win all five Legislative Council seats in Maharashtra, including the Nagpur graduates' constituency. He said the Mahayuti is very strong. He said graduate voters would be able to take their questions to the government through Sudhakar Kohale, and he hoped they would be resolved. He said Mahayuti candidate Sudhakar Kohale would therefore win the Nagpur graduates' constituency.

Referring to the previous election, Bawankule alleged that misuse of power and caste politics were used to defeat Sandip Joshi. He also said he himself had not misused power and that the Mahayuti would win the seat this time.

Asked about the demand for action against the rebel candidate contesting against the Shiv Sena candidate in Amravati, Bawankule said he had made a request for it. He said, "I campaigned in Amravati myself. So I hope the party takes action against its rebel candidate."

Bawankule expressed displeasure over the alleged objectionable remarks by Congress leader Sunil Kedar about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He said he had informed the Superintendent of Police about it.

Commenting on Sanjay Raut, Bawankule said Raut should speak keeping in mind his own stature. According to him, Devendra Fadnavis is one of the country's important chief ministers and needs no one's certificate. Bawankule said the people of the state have accepted him, that freedom of speech does not mean speaking ill of someone, and that the public will teach him the right lesson.

On drought-like conditions in the state, Bawankule said the Cabinet sub-committee headed by him had made the necessary suggestions for drought relief. Instructions have been given to practise economy so that spending on drought measures is more effective. He said it would be acceptable to postpone work on a road for some time for the sake of development, but farmer suicides would not be tolerated. Helping farmers is the government's priority, and necessary steps must be taken to deal with the shortage of fodder and water. He said the government is stressing water conservation, increasing water storage and redeveloping old wells.

Asked whether government schemes would be cut because of the drought, Bawankule said no scheme would be discontinued. According to him, unnecessary expenditure can be avoided by making needed improvements in the implementation of schemes, and the government's aim is to put the money saved into drought relief.

On Rahul Gandhi's allegation of vote theft, Bawankule said votes cannot be stolen in this country and that the election process is conducted transparently. He said the public has stopped voting for thieves, and Rahul Gandhi should examine this.