Chapters on Sikh Gurus 'expunged' from Punjab board Class 12 history books, claims SAD

Opposition party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today claimed that chapters related to the era of Sikh Gurus have been expunged from Punjab School Education Board's Class 12 history books.

SAD spokesman and former education minister Daljit Singh Cheema demanded a high-level probe and stern action against the alleged development.

"It is shocking that the state's own school board has expunged the history makers of Punjab from the history books of Punjab," said Cheema, who has also written to chief minister Amarinder Singh over the issue.

In a press release, Cheema claimed that this move could be part of a "deep rooted conspiracy" to rob the future generations of Punjabis from the knowledge about the history of Sikh Gurus and Sikh warriors of Punjab.

He said corrective measures should be undertaken immediately including ban on sale and distribution of the new Class 12 history book.

There were 23 chapters carrying information about Sikh Gurus, Sikh warriors and historical facts about Punjab in the Class 12 history book, the SAD leader said.

He claimed that all these chapters had been "removed illogically" and replaced with a half-page description about the glorious period of Sikh history.

"This is intolerable as it amounts to playing with the sentiments of the Sikh community and purposefully ignoring the contributions of the Sikh gurus in the history of the country," Cheema said.