The audio clip of the telephonic conversation had gone viral, with Mr Khuba angrily asking Mr Patil to approach the local authorities and Mr Patil in his response challenging the minister to win the next election.
The audio clip of the telephonic conversation had gone viral, with Mr Khuba angrily asking Mr Patil to approach the local authorities and Mr Patil in his response challenging the minister to win the next election.
Kushal Patil, an assistant teacher in Jirga (K) village of Aurad taluk in Bidar district of Karnataka, has been suspended pending inquiry for calling up Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwant Khuba and arguing over non-availability of fertilisers.
In exercise of his power conferred under the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction, on 17 June, deliberately recorded the telephonic conversation as ‘negligent in duty, irresponsibility and misconduct’. Order issued in the charge. And making it viral on social media platforms’.
In the preamble of the order, the officer referred to the complaint lodged by Deepak Patil Lambori and sought action against Mr. Patil for arguing the shortage of fertilizers to Mr. Khuba at the midnight of June 15, 2022 and defaming Mr. Khuba. Publicizing telephone conversations. The official referred to media reports on the issue and the preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Block Education Officer.
Mr. Patil told Hindu that he is the son of a farmer. He said that it is his duty to draw the attention of the public representatives towards the grievances of the farming community and raise their voice against the injustice being done to the farmers.
“I may be a school teacher. But, my family is involved in agriculture. The central government and Mr. Khuba are claiming that there is no shortage of fertilizers. But, the ground reality is that there is no fertilizer available in the local market. We are wandering from door to door to get bags of DAP. In October 2021, we had to go to Telangana to buy fertilizers for sowing Bengal gram and jowar. We are again facing the same problem. My family has There is 88 acres of land in two places. We need 50 bags of DAP for sowing red gram, green gram and black gram and another 100 bags of DAP for sowing sugarcane. But, we are given only one bag of DAP We have voted Mr. Khuba to power. We have every right to approach him if there is any problem,” Mr. Patil said.
Mr Patil said he would launch a protest against what the Union minister called the ‘dictatorship’, besides seeking a legal remedy.
“The district unit of the teachers union is discussing the issue. We will decide on our next course of action soon. We will start a protest against suppressing voice for justice. We will also approach the court,” Mr Patil said.
In the telephonic conversation, Mr. Khuba Mr. Patil is heard asking to contact the local authorities and public representatives for any complaints regarding the shortage of fertilizers. He was heard saying that he is a Union Minister and cannot pay attention to such petty issues. The conversation quickly turned into a heated argument between the two. At one point Mr. Patil challenged Mr. Khuba to come to his village and ask for votes and win the next election.