CBSE textbook row on Nadars: Centre assures to look into issue

The assurance was given by HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju to his party colleague and Shipping Minister G K Vasan when the latter met him to discuss the issue.

Raju said he was holding discussions with officials to find out the reality and would "definitely try to do the needful on this important issue", Vasan told PTI.

He said the "wrong" information given in the CBSE textbook "wounded" the sentiments of the Nadar community and the particular portion should be removed at the earliest.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding removal of the "objectionable" references in the book about Nadars, a trading community concentrated in southern districts of the state.

"The social and economical development achieved by the Nadars over the years is commendable. Their success in the fields of education and business can be attributed to their hard work and determination," she said urging the Prime Minister to direct officials to remove "objectionable" references.

Noting that great leaders, including Kamaraj, belonged to the Nadar community and their contribution to society was immeasurable, Jayalalithaa said various associations belonging to the community made representations to her condemning such "objectionable" references about their community.

DMK Chief M Karunanidhi yesterday urged the Prime Minister to direct officials to rectify these "errors" and remove the objectionable references from the textbook of class IX.

It was "historically incorrect" to have labelled Nadars as migrants to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, he had said.

DMDK chief Vijaykant, MDMK leader Vaiko, and PMK leader S Ramadoss have also objected to the references.