Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucratic machinery hits a rough patch in Bareilly with the swift suspension of City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri post-resignation. The 2019-batch PCS stalwart went public Tuesday, decrying a superior’s ‘Pandit’ label as a grave dishonor to Sanatan symbols and societal harmony.
In emotional tones, Agnihotri shared the pivotal call to the DM: ‘Pandit has gone mad.’ He elaborated, ‘Pandit isn’t caste-specific; it’s the soul of Sanatan Dharma, invoked for Brahmins, Kayasthas, Thakurs alike. Such language erodes trust and insults our ethos.’
Agnihotri’s activism traces to critiques of UGC reforms, which he blasts for discriminating against non-reserved students and sowing caste discord on campuses. He spotlighted administrative overreach in matters involving Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, particularly assaults on tradition during Magh Mela festivities.
He detailed ordeal at the DM’s camp office: Lured under personal guise, held through the night. ‘Routine queries don’t warrant detention – face me openly,’ he implored. The Shankaracharya’s telephonic endorsement bolstered his resolve.
ADM City Saurabh Dubey offered the official line: Officials met Agnihotri Monday at home, probed concerns gently. ‘Suggested respite or further talks, met with flat refusals – he felt misunderstood.’
Beyond the personalities, this episode spotlights deeper issues: Policy dissent, cultural reverence in governance, and officer welfare. Agnihotri’s stand, though suspended, resonates widely, challenging authorities to bridge divides or risk more unrest.