THE LADY IS NOT FOR BENDING: Education acting PS Basundra Kumar resigns, accusing her immediate boss Mahendra Reddy of personal vendatta and 'covering up for his wife'

29/12/2014

WELCOME TO FIJIFIRST PARTY GOVERNMENT: Pity the poor Indo-Fijian voters who swallowed the race-free bait of the thieves (and Fiji Sun lies and propaganda); now Indo-Fijians (Education Minister Reddy) are disgustingly persecuting fellow Indo-Fijians (PS Education Kumar)

Kumar to Head of Government in Parliament Pio Tikoduadua

By VICTOR LAL
Fijileaks Investigation Team
"The Minister (Mahendra Reddy) took over the case in his hands and entertained a recorded CD made on me which is baseless and contains no merit for a suspension without pay. There were obvious frustrations raised by teachers at the school about the conduct of business in the school. The Minister's wife was also teaching at the school and implicated. Those teachers who gave evidences against the wrong doings were immediately transferred out of the school upon the instructions by the Minister himself. A serious crime was committed by the Principal and evidences were clear but the Minister concealed the crime and has aided and abetted the Principal. I sent him a message through Director Secondary that the case needed to be reported to the Police but my advise was ignored." - PS Basundra Kumar in her resignation letter of 29 December 2014 to Public Service Commission

Taloga is new acting PS Education
Deputy Secretary Kelera Taloga (pictured) is the new acting Permanent Secretary for Fiji's Ministry of Education. She was appointed to the position on Christmas Eve, replacing Basundra Kumar who held the role in the lead up to this year's election. When asked to elaborate on the reasons for the change, Minister for Education Dr Mahendra Reddy referred all queries to the Public Service Commission (PSC). Comments are being sought from the PSC. Kumar was appointed to the role in an acting capacity prior to the election in place of Brij Lal, now an MP, who had resigned to contest this year's election with the Fijian Government's FijiFirst Party. Source: FijiLive, 29 December 2014

When asked why Kelera Taloga replaced Basundra Kumar as acting PS Education, Reddy referred all queries to the Public Service Commission. But Fijileaks reveals what really happened as Reddy continues to hide from Fijileaks over sexual misconduct allegations, and is also lying through his teeth that Ganesh Chand's sudden departure is not linked to FICAC investigation and that he (Reddy) is not aware what FICAC is investigating against FNU. The liar knows the truth, for from phone call records from him to FICAC reveal he was constantly interfering to suppress FICAC investigations!

Basundra Kumar's resignation letter (with reasons) to PSC:

29th December 2014

The Permanent Secretary

Public Service Commission

Berkley Cresent

Suva

RE: Resignation from Service

"Dear Sir

I wish to tender in my resignation from the service with effect from 29th January 2015. I have handed over the office of the Permanent Secretary of Education today at 2pm to Mrs. Kelera Talonga the Deputy Secretary Professional as per the letter from PSC dated 23rd December 2014.

I am being compelled to resign because of the following reasons (Fijileaks in bold):

1. Immediately after my handing over, I was issued with a suspension letter without pay effective from 30th December 2014. This is a clear indication of a personal vendetta against me. The suspension is issued based on a case at Bhawani Dayal Arya College in early October 2014. At this particular school the Principal was exercising lethargy and the Mathematics department teachers were having a free ride. I merely executed my duty as the Permanent Secretary of Education.

2. The Minister took over the case in his hands and entertained a recorded CD made on me which is baseless and contains no merit for a suspension without pay. There were obvious frustrations raised by teachers at the school about the conduct of business in the school. The Ministers wife was also teaching at the school and implicated. Those teachers who gave evidences against the wrong doings were immediately transferred out of the school upon the instructions by the Minister himself. A serious crime was committed by the Principal and evidences were clear but the Minister concealed the crime and has aided and abetted the Principal. I sent him a message through Director Secondary that the case needed to be reported to the Police but my advise was ignored.

3. The Minister failed to report the case then to PSC, if he had thought I had breached the code of conduct. Instead he quietly without A/PS’S (my knowledge) directed the Director Secondary to form a task team, investigate and report to him so that he could save his wife’s and his reputation.He is a micro-manager and performs the duties of the PS interpreting the constitution to his pleasure.

4. The Minister has no respect for the staff; he is an uncouth person, breaching the Civil service procedures, practicing parochialism, cronyism and favoritism.

5. He (Minister) works against the civil service procedures and when advised correctly feels offended, shows tantrums and threatens all for suspension and termination. He has a disregard for cabinet collective decision and unilateral decision making.

6. I continued to protect my staff against his vindictive approaches and he felt I was not supporting him thus he began plotting against me so that I could be removed from the position. My staff have been looking to me for rescue but I was always helpless. I have now made up my mind that I will not be able to work with this Minister.

I am attaching a letter of complaint written earlier together with my resignation letter herein for my employer to note and understand the duress compelling me to resign from the service. I thank the Ministry of Education for recognizing my good work and the positive contributions that I have made to the education sector in this country.

Basundra Kumar (Mrs.)

Acting PSE

FIJILEAKS TO MAHENDRA REDDY: RESIGN AND A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY MUST BE CONSTITUTED AGAINST HIM, FNU AND OTHER ALLEGATIONS BEFORE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE IS DONE TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM; TO PYGMY PSEUDO JOURNALISTS LIKE JYOTI PRATIBHA OF FIJI SUN: READ FIJILEAKS AND LEARN
THE ART OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM INSTEAD OF SLEEPING ON THE JOB INSIDE FIJI

And Fijileaks to MIDA (Mediocre, Incoherent, Dictator Ass) Chairman Ashwin Raj: We are coming after you NEXT, based on your own e-mails to prop up the dictatorship and to ensure FijiFirst Party election result!

17 Comments

pooja singh link

29/12/2014 03:54:45 am

bravo Basundra ....good on you, mutilate the devil. he is not fit to be the Minister for education. he is surely envying you because you are smart and intelligent. he is no comparison to you. great woman. we admire your strength. lady with guts to screw such men.

FNU INSIDER

29/12/2014 05:08:58 am

Haha, education ministry sounds like FNU all over and mahendra reddy sounds like Ganesh Chand's mini me. mahen has picked up ganesh's dictatorial style. No wonder mahen is known as ganesh chand's sidekick.

Basundra write that mahend "has no respect for the staff; he is uncouth, breaches the Civil service procedures, practicing parochialism, cronyism and favoritism."

"He (Minister) works against the civil service procedures and when advised correctly feels offended, shows tantrums and threatens all for suspension and termination."

MY GOD! THIS IS GANESH CHAND ALL OVER. MAHEN REDDY HAS MORPHED INTO GANESH CHAND AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF WORKING UNDER HIM AT FNU!

NO WONDER THE EDUCATION MINISTRY STAFF CAN'T STAND HIM.

yash

29/12/2014 11:59:22 am

Ganesh n Mahen are same side of a coin. The Principal, ex PS is talking about is the younger brother of Kamlesh Arya - Sunil Arya.

Sunil Arya brought Bhawani Dayal College to its knees. This same school used to be an example in the days of Mr Dewan Chand as its Principal.

Kamlesh Arya has always played politics as head of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji.

Victor, I thank you for this great effort and true journalism you have shown. Hope Fiji Sun can learn from this. You have done what the local media should have done but are hiding behind the curtains.
Let's now hear about Kamlesh Arya and Mahendra Reddy.
The honors is on you Victor.

Gagaj

29/12/2014 01:11:40 pm

Dr Sharma hurt the integrity of the Health Ministry with big time chor and cruelty, Dr Ganesh Chand built his FNU empire upon deceit and lies then Dr Reddy gets into the act to outdo them both with simple dumbness. This has to be a great lesson to the Fiji First Government that people are no longer interested in party politics nor who belongs to what party for that matter; the people of Fiji are just looking on now and watching the whole saga of corruption unfolding and the kind of people that have been installed into POWER.....add to this list that drive/kill Minister that just cannot be prosecuted because of the unavailability of a Magistrate to hear his case; you've just about concocted the perfect disaster for a Nation

Kavita

29/12/2014 04:52:47 pm

It is saddening to hear of the degrading, humiliating, personalized and gutter level act against the acting PS Basundra Kumar.

It is quite alright for the incoming minister not to take advice on professional matters from a senior officer if he sees it fit that his own is better; It is quite alright for the minister to re-organize work and staff that he sees fit to improve functioning of the ministry as there are processes and procedures within civil service to do so.
IT IS NOT ALRIGHT FOR ANY MINISTER TO SHOW GENDER APATHY , DISRESPECT FOR A WOMAN and SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT by laughing off the matter which would have taken so much courage in the face of embarrassment/intimidation to report.

Acting PS Basudra Kumar’s Computer in her office had been pasted with mensuration pads with vulgar words written. The fact that the minister Reddy laughs it off speaks volumes about the values, character, responsibilities and standards of the minister. How would the minister feel if the same thing happened to a close kin of his? Furthermore, Can the minister be above suspicion on inspiring the act on this matter?

Not long ago, the Fiji parliament saw PM Modi speak and congratulate the women members and Fiji for a good number of Women in the house. One could see the genuine delight on PM Modi’s face.
Mr Reddy was part of the proceedings when such sentiments were echoed.What did Reddy learn from the discourse of a great leader PM Modi? Our women may not have gone to leadership positions like other developed countries and it’s a long way. But don’t we deserve any respect to keep our dignity and Is that the support we can get from our people holding positions of authority?

We are calling on our representatives in parliament to initiate proper enquiry.

Ronald

15/1/2015 05:21:33 am

Adi Kuini Bavadra would have achieved that status had lived long enough.

Welcome Home

29/12/2014 08:04:23 pm

What is intolerable and defies justice and common sense is the corruption and assault by religious bodies masquerading as vehicles for furthering the educational aspirations of the less well-off in any society. This disgraceful, unethical and purportedly criminal conduct must be immediately confronted if tertiary education is to retrieve integrity. Overseas men and women of robust reputation must be sought and no time lost..

sandy chand

29/12/2014 08:52:52 pm

when it comes to leadership ,does gender matter?Is there a difference betweenwomen leaders and men who lead?If so ,then Madam Basundra Kumar got those unique qualities of female leadership ,that most effective women leaders possess,and they are unique to women.I salute you madam for being more assertive and having a stronger need to get things done and more willing to take risks than male leaders like Mahendra Reddy .Madam you are brave not like Minister of education ,just ill-treating women inside his office .madam ,you got more interpersonal skills than mahendra reddy.you are a great women ,Mahendra reddy is in no comparison to you ,i greatly admire your strength.

Case of Sexual Harrassment

30/12/2014 02:25:02 am

It appears that Minister was behind the mensuration pads and his laughter at such a serious complain of sexual harrasment was laughed out loud appears that the Minister was involved here as much as he was involved in plotting against hounourable lady and others who were trasnferred out of school overnight.

Disappointed

30/12/2014 03:09:22 am

I voted for FF because of the SODELPA menace but some of these guys are really letting us down. ASK is acting like he's the PM. Mahendra Reddy is showing that he'd be an even worse dictator if he's given the power. And as fnu insider has said, for what Basundra Kumar has reported, she's actually describing Ganesh Chand! What a pity that Mahendra Reddy has also turned into a beast having rubbed shoulders with Ganesh all these years. Truly the type of company a man keeps makes hi

Disappointed

30/12/2014 03:11:32 am

bisun chand

30/12/2014 12:30:45 pm

It is really sad and with great disappointment to note that our ladies who we should be proud of foe their efforts are treated in such a way. We had so much confidence voting for Fiji first. No they have formed a low profile. All this time of being as a care taker government, they have been preaching "corruption free society", go by books etc. Common, now you have to speak out and bring justice. Such a behavior at education ministry, there should be zero tolerance, practice what you preach. You have to clean your back yards. Fiji First team should not forget that they are in powers for only 5 years. Getting peoples votes does not mean that you should be only filling your pockets with huge salaries, incentives such as housing,traveling and entertainment. Hope justice will prevail, we are not stupid and truth would not be hidden for long. Minister of education does not have the capability to handle his ministry due to his inferior motives, then, the PM should intervene. TO GET THE VOTES, HW TRAVELED EVERYWHERE AND ASSURED THAT HIS PARTY IS PEOPLES PARTY, NOW WHAT! IT'S SIMPLY INDO-FIJIAN FIGHTING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND GETTING HUGE AUDIENCE.

Eremondieu

31/12/2014 02:48:42 am

Every dog has his day..today it's Ganesh Chand's! The wheels of natural justice does turn sloooowwwly but how the mighty will always fall. Opposition should have found out more about this guy before rushing to defend his ousting.

tony blake

1/1/2015 07:40:13 pm

I have no sympathy for MoEd staff including this PS.....i lodged a complain in March 2014 of assault by a teacher on my son...nothing was done....ansolutly pathetic

suresh chand

5/1/2015 10:23:57 pm

It seems that something is wrong in education ministry. My suggestion is that we should take mrs kumars complain andsee in depth.it seems we have choosed aectremly wrong guy in education ministry.

MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO THE PM AND CONCERNED COMMISION IS TO ACT TRUELY BECOUSE FIJI FUTURE IS IN OUR CHILDRENS HAND AND THEY CAN ONLY IMPROVE THROUGH EDUCATION.IF THE MINISTER GOES LIKE THIS THAN WE ARE IN DENGER

asena

6/1/2015 02:33:18 pm

People should not jump to conclusions. The decision to remove Basundra has been long overdue. You have to be in the system to know what she has been doing this whole time...abusing her office and her power to promote people she pleases without meeting the MQR. Not to sound racist but the indo Fijian teachers have greatly benefitted from it... it's common knowledge and the subject of many talanoa sessions ever since I can remember. Finally, someone has the authority to do something about it.... the general reaction in the teaching fraternity at the news of her termination is.... Yaaaaaay!!! Finally!!!

riita

20/2/2015 09:09:04 pm

Basundra used the union to rise quickly,she missed so many steps and people through her own cunning way not hard work to get to the top.Suddenly she is in the ministry..who put her there again the Fiji Teachers Union,not hardworkThen in her own cunning and evil way,she manipulated herself to the PS position.God is watching over you Basundra..its time for you to leave a position you did not deserve.You climbed up the ladder through corruption and you will be removed through corruption.

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