File Photo: PM Narendra Modi
Agitating contractual teachers today sought an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Varanasi on Friday, even as UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav urged them not to take any extreme step after one of them committed suicide.
Mr Yadav assured the 'shiksha mitras' that his government would find a way to resolve the crisis after the Allahabad High Court had on September 12 declared as illegal the move to regularise them.
UP Shiksha Mitra Welfare Association President Jitendra Shahi said, "We have submitted a memorandum with the Prime Minister's Office in Varanasi seeking a meeting and the administration has also told us that they will try for it but we are awaiting confirmation.
"We have asked all the 1.72 lakh shiksha mitras to reach Varanasi on September 18 as we want to show our strength but we will maintain the decorum of teachers and will not indulge in any aggressive protest."
He said that a five-member delegation be allowed to meet Mr Modi.
Apprehending that shiksha mitras might try to stage protest during Modi's visit, the state police has directed respective district police chiefs to check their movement and avert any untoward incident.
Contractual teachers across UP have even sought the President and the Prime Minister's permission for euthanasia.
The Chief Minister said, "In the coming days, the government will consider putting forth its views in a manner which is acceptable to the court. At the same time I urge shiksha mitras that they should not agitate.
"The government will look into all aspects, including what rules and regulations are to be framed, and whether regularisations have been made in any other state for teachers who have not cleared the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET)."
Citing the incident of an adhoc teacher who allegedly committed suicide in Kannauj district on Sunday, Mr Yadav said, "Protesting teachers should not resort to any extreme step."
In a related incident, a 37-year-old shiksha mitra today allegedly tried to end his life by consuming some poisonous substance in front of the UP Assembly. He was rushed to hospital, police said.