Principal suspended after Scindia’s event at MP govt college

GUNA MP SCINDIA WAS AT AN EVENT IN THE COLLEGE IN HIS PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY ON OCTOBER 10

BHOPAL: A day after Guna MP and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia attended a programme and addressed a gathering of students at a government degree college in his parliamentary constituency, the state government suspended the college principal.

In its order dated October 11, 2017, the higher education department attributed the suspension of BL Ahirwar, principal of the Government Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Degree College, Mungawali, to “holding of NSS programme under a banner bearing ‘politics party’, assembly of ‘ politics party’ workers, putting up banner of ‘politics party’ on the degree college premises, giving advice to lure students with money to vote for any ‘politics party’ and conducting activities to vitiate educational atmosphere while getting involved in party politics”.

The order, a copy of which is available with HT, says the above mentioned activities amount to a clear violation of The MP Civil Service Conduct Rules, 1965.

Since Mungawali is to witness a by-poll for the assembly seat in the coming months after the death of its representative, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda, the action against the principal smacks of a political vendetta in the Opposition’s eyes.

In a scathing attack on the government, Scindia tweeted: “By placing under suspension Dalit principal Dr Ahirwar without any notice or concrete ground, the government stands exposed for its anti-dalit mindset. It’s a dictatorial order of an insensitive government which is biased and deserves strong condemnation.”

He sought to know from the government, “Is inviting the local MP to a degree college in his constituency amounts to such a big crime as principal be suspended for this?” Despite repeated attempts, the minister and principal secretary higher education couldn’t be contacted. Justifying the action, state BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said college premises should not be used for furthering any political agenda by a party or politician. NEWDELHI: India’s factory output rebounded strongly to a ninemonth high of 4.3% in August as companies stepped up production to restock warehouses ahead of the festival season, after they reduced output in June and July owing to uncertainties regarding implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) further revised downward the index of industrial production (IIP) figure for July to 0.9% from 1.2% estimated earlier.

Data separately released by CSO showed retail inflation was unchanged at 3.28% in September from its revised figure for August--the provisional retail inflation for August was 3.36%.

The rebound in factory output reinforces the claim that subsequent quarters would see a recovery in the economic growth momentum; growth in gross domestic product had slowed to 5.7% in the first quarter ended June. However, analysts claimed that it would be better to wait and watch. “Three successive impressive growth rates would indicate a real recovery. Or else it would be more a case of the restocking impact of the GST effect,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Care Ratings.

After the economy unexpectedly slowed to a three-year low at 5.7% in June quarter, clamour for a fiscal stimulus grew with finance minister Arun Jaitley also hinting at measures to revive the economy.

The newly constituted Prime minister’s economic advisory council under economist Bibek Debroy that met for the first time on Wednesday ruled out the need for a fiscal stimulus to prop up the economy, holding that the economy is on a recovery path.

DATA RELEASED BY CSO SHOWED RETAIL INFLATION WAS UNCHANGED AT 3.28% IN SEPTEMBER FROM ITS REVISED FIGURE FOR AUGUST