Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, facing criticism for allegedly ‘threatening’ a teaching job aspirant over questions about the delayed recruitment process, clarified that his intent was not to threaten or insult the woman. In a viral video from a live TV interview in Beed on Sunday, Kesarkar expressed frustration during the aspirant’s questioning.
“I didn’t lose my cool. I was giving an interview, and she just gatecrashed into it and interrupted me. Despite this, I answered her questions, but when she refused to stop, I had to tell her that this kind of indiscipline was not acceptable, especially from an aspiring teacher. Had she waited for my interview to finish, I would have responded to all her questions,” explained the minister on Tuesday.
Following Kesarkar’s clarification, another audio clip surfaced, featuring a teaching job aspirant questioning the minister about the recruitment process. In the call, which seems to predate the Pavitra Portal, Kesarkar loses his temper and threatens to disqualify the caller.
Various politicians, including NCP leader Supriya Sule and Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, criticized Kesarkar after the video came to light.
The video captures the minister initially explaining the registration process to the woman, emphasizing that the online portal has been opened. However, he loses his composure when she points out that, despite five years of delay, nothing beyond registration has occurred on the portal.
He remarks that “with this kind of indiscipline, she would be a misfit in a government job.” As she interrupts him again, the video shows him saying, “Don’t interrupt me; otherwise, I will obtain your name and get you disqualified!”
With over 60,000 teacher vacancies in Maharashtra, the recruitment process initiated with applications for a qualifying exam in December is still incomplete. The ‘Pavitra Portal’ for online recruitment opened in September, but advertisements for appointments are yet to be released. Officials state that 20,000 recruitments will be made. Teacher aspirants have been protesting outside the Education Commissioner’s office in Pune since Saturday.
