A dramatic resignation-turned-suspension saga unfolds in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where PCS officer Alankar Agnihotri accuses the administration of cultural bigotry via a leaked ‘Pandit’ comment. Hours after quitting as City Magistrate, the state slapped him with suspension, prompting a no-holds-barred media outburst on Tuesday.
Agnihotri’s core allegation: During a call to the District Magistrate, someone dismissed him as ‘Pandit gone crazy.’ He unpacked the term’s weight – a revered emblem of Sanatan heritage embraced by Brahmins, Kayasthas, Thakurs, and beyond. ‘This slur wounds every community and our shared traditions,’ he thundered, labeling it intolerable.
Background reveals Agnihotri’s vocal stance against UGC policies he sees as anti-merit, biased towards reservations that sideline general students and risk caste clashes in universities. He tied it to broader administrative lapses, like the shabby treatment of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand during public religious events including the Magh Mela.
Escalating claims, Agnihotri said he was effectively held hostage overnight at the DM’s camp office. ‘Summoned for “personal reasons,” yet grilled endlessly on basics – absurd!’ He demanded the DM’s public accountability. The Shankaracharya rang to commend his boldness in defending dharma.
Administration’s rebuttal came from ADM Saurabh Dubey: A Monday house call involved empathetic dialogue. ‘We proposed leave for recovery and open channels for grievances, but he stonewalled, convinced of our ignorance.’
This high-stakes confrontation exposes fault lines in UP’s governance – from policy rifts to personal vendettas. Agnihotri’s defiance has galvanized supporters, but at what cost to his career? The controversy promises ripple effects across the state’s administrative landscape.