MP govt succumbs under pressure

Withdraws controversial order making teachings of Bhagwat Gita mandatory in schools

Succumbing to pressure from various communities and main opposition Congress, Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has taken a u-turn from its earlier decision to make Bhagwad Gita teachings mandatory in schools. Shivraj Singh Chouhan has withdrawn its orders and the ordinance.

After receiving criticism from various sections of the society and main opposition Congress, yesterday evening, the state government had issued a statement and tried to clarify its stand on making the Bhagwad Gita teachings mandatory in schools.

Chouhan, however, had said here "controversy has been created though inclusion of some chapters of Bhagwad Gita in school curriculum has nothing to do with religious teaching. The ordinance and the order have now been withdrawn."

Yesterday, through an official communique state government tried to douse the controversy by saying that "Apart from Gita, project works have also been assigned to include subjects of other religions in school books for making them inclusive. These included life sketch of Paigambar Mohammad Sahib, incident of Karbala, Guru Nanak Dev, Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Swami, Christ, Gharib Nawaz of Ajmer. Lessons, poems and information on gift of Christmas, Bibi Fatima's life sketch, Holi, Id, Deewali, Rakhi, Id-uz-Zuha, Onam, Christmas, Dussehra, Guru Parv, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti, Lohri, festivals are included in school books of various classes."

The press communique further clarified, "Keeping useful aspects of Gita's practical knowledge in view, it is wrong to see lessons included in school text-books from religious or communal angle. They are basically moral teachings, which are called teachings of emotional maturity. The action has been ensured in keeping with this spirit."

Terming the decision unconstitutional Haleem Khan, member of the Centre's National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education had warned the government against the decision and had threatened to move court if it was not withdrawn.

The leader of opposition Ajay Singh had also flayed the government on making Bhagwad Gita teachings mandatory and said BJP wants to "saffronise" school education.