JK: BJP demands ban on book distributed to schools, alleges 'academic jihad'

Jammu: The BJP on Saturday alleged that a book distributed to government school libraries in Jammu and Kashmir glorifies terrorists, separatists and stone-pelters and demanded an immediate ban on it and the sacking of J-K Education Minister Sakeena Itoo.

Calling the issue a criminal matter rather than merely an academic lapse, Leader of Opposition in J-K Assembly Sunil Sharma alleged it was a part of "academic jihad" intended to poison young minds to revive separatism by using the education system to propagate a Pakistan-sponsored narrative.

Addressing a press conference, he demanded an immediate ban on the book "Personalities and Legends of J&K" and a high-level probe, claiming it has been distributed in government school libraries under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

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Sharma claimed the book portrays individuals such as hanged JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Masarat Alam Bhat, in a positive light, and objected to references describing India as "Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)" and "India-held Kashmir."

BJP alleges controversial book distributed in J-K school libraries

"The book distributed by the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir across numerous libraries in the Union Territory glorifies convicts, murderers, terrorists, separatists, and stone-pelters. "It is deeply regrettable that the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department has distributed this book to schools under the logo of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

This is a grave offence," the BJP leader said. Sharma accused the ruling National Conference of providing political patronage to the separatist narrative. He said the minister in charge of the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department should be removed from office with immediate effect and a high-level probe should be ordered against all those involved.

BJP demands criminal action over controversial J-K school book

"Those responsible -- including the author, the publisher, and the committee of experts that approved the book-- should face criminal proceedings. A case should be registered against them, treating it as a seditious offence, and they should be arrested immediately and proceeded against in accordance with the law," the BJP leader said.

The book contains no educational material and offers no authentic historical account. Instead, it appears to have been deliberately crafted to spread a "poisonous narrative driven by a separatist ideology and a jihadist mindset", he alleged.

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Referring to previous BJP campaigns against similar publications, Sharma said the party had earlier facilitated the banning of 25 books containing material allegedly against India's sovereignty and urged the government and investigating agencies to take immediate action against the current publication.