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Amid the controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department ordered the immediate withdrawal of the book from all government school libraries.
The BJP alleged that the book praised 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and referred to J&K as “Indian-occupied Kashmir.”
A political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after a book distributed to government school libraries allegedly described terrorists and separatist leaders as “great personalities” and “legends.”
The book, reportedly supplied to government schools under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, allegedly glorified separatist figures including Maqbool Bhat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah, Masarat Alam, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Maulvi Farooq as “legends”.
Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, termed the issue a “grave offence” and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Sharma said that the book praised the 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and referred to J&K as “Indian-occupied Kashmir.” He said this is “academic jihad” against India.
“These books have been distributed to libraries in numerous schools across Jammu and Kashmir. This is a grave offence. A book that praises Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and refers to the region as ‘Indian-occupied Kashmir’ is objectionable and controversial. It must be banned immediately,” Sharma said.
The BJP leader further demanded accountability from all those involved in the book’s approval and distribution and said that the education minister should be removed immediately.
“Be it the author, the publisher, the expert committee or the Education Minister, everyone responsible must be held accountable. It is the duty of the head of the government to immediately remove the Education Minister. There is a specific agenda behind this. It is a massive conspiracy, and we have no doubt that the National Conference government is involved from top to bottom,” he alleged.
Former J&K DGP SP Vaid said figures like Masarat Alam, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and Shabir Shah acted as mouthpieces for the agendas of Pakistan’s ISI and establishment.
“By portraying them as legends, you are signalling to the next generation that if they wish to become legends themselves, they should emulate these figures… The book describes Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as the last hope for Kashmir. Is this truly the sentiment of Jammu & Kashmir?… You are effectively advancing the agenda of the Pakistani establishment and portraying India as an occupier—labelling the region Indian-occupied Kashmir,” he said.
Book Withdrawn, Probe Ordered
Amid the controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department ordered the immediate withdrawal of the book from all government school libraries.
The department has also constituted an inquiry to examine how the book was approved, procured and distributed under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. Officials said action will be initiated against those found responsible based on the findings of the probe.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha suspended eight education officials, disengages staffer and ordered a probe over alleged separatist content in the book.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Srinagar, India, India
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