Indian teacher suspended for mocking PM Modi over gas prices
Teacher in BJP-ruled state suspended after video mocking Prime Minister Modi over cooking gas price hike sparks debate over dissent
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A government school teacher in central India has been suspended after posting a short video mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising cooking gas prices, an episode that has triggered debate over political intolerance and freedom of expression in India’s public sector.
The disciplinary action was taken in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, governed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after a ruling-party legislator filed a complaint about the video.
According to local reports, the teacher, Saket Purohit, was working at a government school in Shivpuri district, a largely rural region in northern Madhya Pradesh about 300 kilometers south of New Delhi.
The controversy began when a 58-second clip circulated widely on social media showing Purohit mimicking the prime minister while commenting on the rising cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the main cooking fuel used by millions of Indian households.
The video drew the attention of BJP lawmaker Pritam Lodhi, who represents the Pichhore constituency in the state assembly. Lodhi filed a complaint with the district education authorities, accusing the teacher of attempting to provoke unrest.
Following the complaint, the district education officer ordered an inquiry and issued a suspension order, citing alleged violations of civil service conduct rules.
The order described the video as an act of “gross indiscipline” and transferred Purohit to the office of a local education administrator while the investigation continues.
Purohit has contested the action, saying the suspension was imposed without giving him an opportunity to respond or present his explanation.
The incident comes at a time of growing public frustration over rising household fuel costs in India. Earlier this month, the price of a domestic LPG cylinder increased by about 60 Indian rupees ($0.65), adding pressure on household budgets already strained by inflation.
Energy analysts say fuel prices in India remain highly sensitive to international supply disruptions, including instability in West Asia that affects global oil and gas markets.
However, political debate around energy prices has increasingly moved onto social media, where users often circulate satirical videos and criticism of government policy.
Observers say the suspension highlights broader concerns about shrinking tolerance for political criticism in India’s public institutions, particularly in states governed by the BJP where public employees face strict conduct rules restricting speech that authorities deem political or disruptive.
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