Officer threatened for applying "tilak" on forehead

Patna, Sep 06 (UNI) The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee(BPCC) today demanded stringent action against Special Secretary in state Agriculture department C K Anil for his alleged threat to suspend an officer for applying red "tilak" on his forehead.

In a release here, chief BPCC spokesman Prem Chandra Mishra said Mr Anil's action was highly ''objectionable'' as it was entirely an issue of personal faith and religion.

In a secular country like India, everyone had the right to follow his religion and it should be protected at any cost, he added.

He said earlier the then Chief secretary of Bihar K A H Subramanyan used to attend his office with a "tilak" on his forehead and even Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy attended the official meeting with "tilak".

The action of Mr Anil was aimed at a particular caste of the society and it would not be tolerated under any circumstance, he averred.

Earlier, Deputy Director Laxman Mishra was reprimanded by Mr Anil for attending the official meeting with a "tilak" on his forehead.

He had once asked Mr Mishra to get out from the meeting hall when the latter refused to wipe out the "tilak" from his forehead.

UNI