Sushma takes up sacked singer’s cause with Mamata

The BJP’s deputy leader of opposition, Sushma Swaraj, a closet fan of the music programme Sa Re Gaa Ma Pa Challenge, has written to railway minister Mamata Banerjee requesting that contestant Poonam Yadav’s temporary railway job be restored.

Poonam Yadav, last year’s runner-up in the musical contest, had landed a job as a lower division clerk in the Lucknow DRM’s office after railway minister Lalu Prasad heard her sing on the programme.

But seven months into the job she was told that her services were no longer required. Yadav hails from an economically backward family.  Her plight moved Swaraj who traced Poonam and wrote to Banerjee. “I have heard that you are a music lover yourself, and are sensitive to the plight of artists, which encourages me to write to you,” Swaraj wrote.

“The appointment of artists to government jobs is always done by relaxing a few of the rules and I would request you to extend the same to Poonam Yadav… whose mother had to sell roasted corn for an income,” she said. “Please save this talent which has taken birth in a poor home,” she said.

An upset Poonam Yadav says, “I want the job, it means security for me. When didi (Swaraj) called me up, I told her I haven’t slept properly all these days,” she said. “When I got the job, I knew it was temporary but that I would be assessed five months later for confirmation, but that did not happen and I was told my job has been terminated,” Poonam said.

Sushma Swaraj said she would wait for Banerjee to respond before personally presenting Poonam’s case. Mamata Banerjee was not available for comment.