Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (SS)

Bengaluru, May 18: Education minister B C Nagesh said that there was nothing wrong to include Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Keshav Baliram Hegdewar’s message as he has spoken about the importance of society and the nation.

The inclusion of a speech by the founder of the Hegdewar in a revised Kannada textbook for Class 10 students has stirred a row in the state and triggered an outrage among the members of the opposition parties.

It was also reported that while the Hegdewar speech has been added to the syllabus, a lesson on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh has been omitted to which the government has refuted claims. Nagesh has clarified that the chapter on Bhagat Singh had not been omitted.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Patyapushtaka Sangha has clarified that it has not omitted the chapter on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in class 10 textbooks. The revised first language Kannada textbooks are now being printed, managing director of the Sangha Made Gowda has clarified.

Earlier, the government had stirred a hornets’ nest when it was reported that it had omitted a lesson on Tipu Sultan by the textbook revision committee headed by Rohith Chakratheertha.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that BJP was against Bhagat Singh and criticised the government move to remove the chapter when the freedom fighter is loved by all Indians. He said the BJP is dishonouring the sacrifice made by Bhagat Singh which will not be tolerated by Indians urging the government to withdraw the move.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has objected to the systematic inclusion of party bias in the textbooks. He said the BJP has shown its true colours by deleting portions in the textbooks. He expressed fear that Karnataka was caught in this crossfire and in the hands of such administrators.