JD(U) criticises contractual teachers for agitating against CM

JD(U) lashed out at contractual teachers on Thursday for agitating against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his 'Adhikar yatra' in the districts saying their conduct was an act of ingratitude.

"It is unbecoming of a teacher to throw slippers at the chief minister," JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari told reporters referring to the agitation by contractual teachers at Begusarai earlier in the day.

Agitating contractual teachers had also waved black flags, threw eggs and shouted slogans at the public meeting by Kumar at Begusarai demanding regularization of services.

"These contractual teachers should remember that it was the NDA government that elevated them from 'Shiksha Mitras' in primary schools earning a stipend of Rs 1500 per month to contractual teachers with starting monthly salary of Rs 5000 in 2006 and job security," he said.

The contractual teachers were being ungrateful towards the state government and the chief minister by agitating against him demanding regularization of service and parity in salaries and perks with regular teachers.

"Their demand is unrealistic in the context of limited resources of the state government," he said.

Tiwari said it was virtually impossible for any government to meet the demands of the contractual teachers as it would require half the funds in the budget to meet their salaries alone.

Besides, the contractual primary school teachers had signed a contract for accepting their jobs on clear terms and conditions.

If they were not satisfied with their service conditions they have the option to quit, he said and flayed 'political forces' instigating them to agitate against the chief minister.

"These parties too would find it difficult to accommodate the teacher's unrealistic demands," he added.

Kumar has been facing protests by contractual teachers at all venues of his 'Adhikar yatra', undertaken to solicit public support for special category status to Bihar right from its start at Betiah on September 19.

The protests had provoked Kumar to slam his political adversaries for instigating the protesters and he said he would not consider the contractual teachers' demand at all.