Bareilly is at the center of a fiery administrative clash after the Uttar Pradesh government suspended City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri right after his resignation. The 2019 PCS officer didn’t hold back in a press briefing Tuesday, leveling explosive charges against the District Magistrate for an alleged ‘Pandit’ jibe that he deems a direct affront to Hindu traditions.
Agnihotri painted a picture of broken trust in the system. ‘A call came to the DM ordering, “The Pandit has lost it,”‘ he revealed. Emphasizing that ‘Pandit’ represents Sanatan Dharma’s essence and unites various communities like Brahmins, Kayasthas, and Thakurs, he called the remark deeply offensive. This isn’t personal, he stressed – it’s an attack on cultural pride shared by millions.
His frustration boils over from opposition to UGC’s latest rules, which he argues favor certain groups at the expense of general category students, potentially fueling campus divisions. Agnihotri also cited mishandling of events linked to Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, where local authorities purportedly dishonored religious figures during the Magh Mela and other gatherings.
Detailing further mistreatment, he claimed officials tried to detain him all night at the DM’s office on trivial pretexts. ‘If it’s personal, explain quickly – why the all-nighter?’ he challenged, urging transparency. Blessed over the phone by the Shankaracharya, Agnihotri vowed to stand firm.
ADM City Saurabh Dubey countered, describing a Monday visit to Agnihotri’s home with senior officials. ‘We listened patiently, offered rest or support, but he rejected every overture saying we couldn’t comprehend,’ Dubey noted.
As suspensions and accusations fly, this incident underscores simmering tensions between officers and higher-ups in UP bureaucracy. Will it prompt reforms in handling dissent, or deepen divides? The coming days will tell.
