‘Not accorded warm welcome’, AAP MLA complains to Speaker

A visit of Jaito AAP MLA to a government primary school in Gondara village in Faridkot has sparked a controversy.

Accusing four teachers of not according him a welcome, the “aggrieved” MLA Amolak Singh wrote a letter to Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who summoned the teachers concerned at his office in Chandigarh for an “explanation”.

On Tuesday, the teachers reached the Speaker’s office but could not meet him as he was pre-occupied. Later, they were asked to come back on Wednesday. However, today they received a message to wait for the next date. The Speaker said the teachers had been asked to submit the reply on the MLA’s complaint.

In his complaint, Amolak alleged that during his visit to government school on October 17, neither the head nor any of the teachers came out of their classrooms to receive him.

Harwinder Singh, head teacher, Government Primary School, Gondara, said he was on a half-day leave when the MLA visited. He claimed that two teachers accorded Jaito legislator a warm welcome. Three women teachers, who were taking classes, were not prompt in meeting the MLA, he said.

“There was no intention to ignore the MLA. We have met him and will submit the reply,” he said.

Prem Chawla of the Government School Teachers’ Union said, “The MLA’s behaviour smacked of arrogance. The teachers are recruited to teach the students, not to attend the politicians who make unscheduled visits.”

Gagandeep Pahwa, district president, Democratic Teachers’ Front, said the MLA’s complaint and the reply sought by the Speaker was highly condemnable.

Amolak said the issue had been sorted out after the teachers apologised for their indifferent behaviour.