New Delhi: Edtech company Unacademy has fired its teacher whose video had gone viral in which he could be heard asking students to vote for a literate person in the upcoming elections, the Free Press Journal reported.
An X (formerly Twitter) user, Shantanu, shared an update saying, “This teacher urged his students to vote for an educated leader, he didn’t take anyone’s name. BJP supporters assumed that he was targeting Modi and they made pressure on the Unacademy. Now he has lost his job.”
This teacher urged his students to vote for an educated leader, he didn’t take anyone’s name.
BJP supporters assumed that he was targeting Modi and they made pressure on the Unacademy.
Now he has lost his job. pic.twitter.com/f7olZ3Rr7d
— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) August 17, 2023
“Remember whenever you vote next time, elect an educated person so you don’t face this situation again,” said the teacher, identified as Karan Sangwan, in the video. “Vote for a person who understands things. Make your decisions properly.”
The chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, shared a post on X, saying, “Is it a crime to appeal people to vote for an educated politician? If someone is illiterate, personally I respect him. But people’s representatives cannot be illiterate. This is the era of science and technology. Illiterate public representatives can never build the modern India of 21st century.”
क्या पढ़े लिखे लोगों को वोट देने की अपील करना अपराध है? यदि कोई अनपढ़ है, व्यक्तिगत तौर पर मैं उसका सम्मान करता हूँ। लेकिन जनप्रतिनिधि अनपढ़ नहीं हो सकते। ये साइंस और टेक्नोलॉजी का ज़माना है। 21वीं सदी के आधुनिक भारत का निर्माण अनपढ़ जनप्रतिनिधि कभी नहीं कर सकते। https://t.co/YPX4OCoRoZ
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 17, 2023
Sangwan didn’t take any names, however, many users criticised him for promoting political propaganda in the name of education. Some even supported the edtech company’s decision to terminate his contract.
“Karan Sangwan an @unacademy faculty of Law is urging students not to vote for BJP again. Is this a revolution in Education Roman Saini talks about??” a user wrote, referring to one of the co-founders of Unacademy.
Viswa Hindu Parishad member, Prachi Sadhvi, said, “No Need To #UninstallUnacademy Great Work By @unacademy. Unacadmdy Fired Anti Nationalist Teacher.”
No Need To #UninstallUnacademy
Great Work By @unacademy
Unacadmdy Fired Anti Nationalist Teacher .
सराहनीय फैसला 🙏 pic.twitter.com/IbYT6IjlCY
— Dr. Prachi Sadhvi (@Sadhvi_prachi) August 17, 2023