Tilak Row
West Bengal CM's big warning: Teacher suspended over tilak row, govt employee punished for PM Modi post
Kolkata/IBNS: A teacher at an English-medium school in West Bengal has been suspended for allegedly forcing a student to remove a tilak, or sandalwood mark, before entering the classroom, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday.
An FIR has also been registered against the teacher, who was employed at Holy Mission English Medium School, Adhikari said.
"The teacher used to harass the child for wearing the tilak. He was even forced to wipe it out before entering the classroom," Adhikari said at a press conference.
Adhikari had briefly referred to the incident on Thursday while attending an event organised by Vidya Bharati, the education wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He had condemned the "mindset" behind the incident after the boy allegedly complained that a teacher had forced him to remove the tilak.
Government employee suspended over PM Modi post
In a separate incident, Adhikari said a government employee posted at Bikash Bhavan, which houses the state Education Department, was suspended for sharing an "objectionable post" about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Such things will no longer be allowed in West Bengal," the Chief Minister warned, adding, "Moreover, a government employee has no right to post such things."
According to Adhikari, the employee has been identified as Paromita Sen.
West Bengal reiterates restrictions on government employees
Soon after coming to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led West Bengal government issued a circular in May 2026 reiterating restrictions on how government employees and officials can interact with the media and publicly share information.
The order, issued by Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, covers state government employees, All India Service officers working in connection with the state, as well as staff of government-funded autonomous bodies, boards, corporations, undertakings and educational institutions.
The move comes amid the state government's renewed emphasis on restrictions governing public communication and social media activity by government employees.
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