“‘Goddess Saraswati contributed nothing to education’: Govt school teacher in Rajasthan suspended for hurting religious sentiments”, Opindia, February 24, 2024:

“On Saturday (24th February), the Education Department official said a government school teacher, posted in Rajasthan’s Baran district, has been suspended for disrespecting Goddess Saraswati and hurting religious feelings. The officials added that the primary school teacher named Hemlata Bairwa was suspended on Friday following an order by Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar.

Addressing a public gathering in the Kishanganj area in the Baran district on Thursday, Dilawar said, “Some people give weightage to themselves so much, their ‘chaal’ (working style) is not yet gone and they ask what is the contribution of Goddess Saraswati in school, whoever has said so in this area, I suspend him/her.” 

Following the Education Minister’s public announcement, a day later, the district education (elementary) officer of Baran issued an order to suspend Prabodhak level 1 teacher, Hemlata Bairwa. Till her suspension, she was posted at the government primary school at Lakdai village in the Kishanganj area in the Baran district. It is pertinent to note that a disciplinary action was under consideration against her and the suspension comes because of the same….”

Read the full article at Opindia.com