SHILLONG, Dec 14: After questions were raised against the government notification that barred teachers from taking part in active politics, NPP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, on Tuesday, said that the government welcomes intellectuals to join politics but they should first resign from their respective jobs.
Tynsong made it clear that intellectuals are welcome to enter politics but they will have to give up their jobs.
“I also joined politics but I resigned from my job, we need to be clear on that,” Tynsong said.
Informing that he had resigned in 2002, the deputy chief minister said, “I remember it was October 15, 2002, I resigned and joined politics. We need to understand whoever wants to join politics the door is always open you can join and time any moment but you need to resign from your job”.
The Voice of the People Party (VPP) had yesterday asked the NPP-led government to immediately withdraw the notification that bars teachers, lecturers and professors from holding the office of any political organisation or local bodies.
According to the VPP, the notification was a knee-jerk reaction from the state government to prevent professors and lecturers from enrolling themselves with their new party and that employees of government-aided educational institutions are not government employees, barring them from participating in election activities is a ‘gross violation’ of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India.
