Karnataka education minister denies omission of lesson on Bhagat Singh from Kannada textbook

NEW DELHI: Replying to Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, Karnataka education minister B C Nagesh denied removal of a lesson on Bhagat Singh from Class 10 Kannada textbook. “Being a CM, before making any allegations it’s better to confirm with the official source,” Nagesh said in a twitter post. Earlier today, Kejriwal and Mann had hit out at the BJP government saying that the move is an insult to martyrs and demanded restoration of the chapter.

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“BJP has the highest respect for its country's martyrs who fought for our freedom. The Karnataka Text Book Society has clearly clarified that 'Shaheed Bhagat Singh' chapter has not been removed. Being a CM, before making any allegations it's better to confirm with official source,” Nagesh tweeted.

BJP has the highest respect for its country's martyrs who fought for our freedom. The Karnataka Text Book Society has clearly clarified that 'Shaheed Bhagat Singh' chapter has not been removed. Being a CM, before making any allegations it's better to confirm with official source pic.twitter.com/B3TawuzfKe

— B.C Nagesh (@BCNagesh_bjp) May 17, 2022

A notice shared by the education minister reads, “In mass-media, it is broadcasting that the lesson on “Bhagat Singh” has been dropped and added a lesson on “Hedgewar”. But the fact is that the lesson on Bhagat Singh has not been dropped in the revised 10th standard Kannada textbook. At present, the revised textbook is in the process of printing.”

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According to the notice, the committee has been framed under the chairmanship of Rohith Chakratirtha to relook and revise the social science and Kannada language textbooks. The committee has revised Class 6 to 10 social science and Class 1 to 10 Kannada language textbooks for the year 2022-23, it added.

Kejriwal, Mann’s reactions

Kejriwal said it's an insult to the sacrifice made by the iconic freedom fighter, and demanded a roll back of the decision. Taking to Twitter, the AAP national convenor said the country will not tolerate such insult of its martyrs, and asked the BJP why "its people" hate Bhagat Singh so much.

Punjab CM had tweeted, “BJP's hatred of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh ji came in front of everyone. Even today, a wave of patriotism runs among the youth after reading Sardar Bhagat Singh, who lit the flame of revolution by giving his life for the country at a young age. Due to this spirit of patriotism, the spirit of BJP trembles due to fear.”

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Kejriwal and Mann’s reactions came a day after some organisations, including All-India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) and All-India Save Education Committee (AISEC), claimed that the Karnataka government has omitted a lesson on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and included a speech by RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in a revised Kannada textbook for students of class 10.