Class XII Political Science textbook published under BJP rule in Rajasthan
FIR against teachers responsible for spreading communal hatred
A Political Science textbook of Class XII published by Rajasthan State Textbook Board, during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the state tries to sow the seed of communal hatred among the young minds, by associating Islam with terrorism.
This came to the notice of Mohsin Rasheed Tonk, State Co-ordinator Congress Minority Department, who also holds the same post in Rajasthan Muslim Forum.
Pained to see the communally provocative and misleading matter in the textbook, Rasheed filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the Lalkothi police station in Jaipur. The FIR No 57 of 2021 has named the following teachers, who jointly prepared the Political Science textbook: Baludaan Baarhat, Saroj Kumar, Sohan Lal Sharma, Mahavir Prasad Sharma, Umesh Chandra Sharma, Banshi Lal Jakhhad, Dr Inakshi Chaturvedi, Narendra Kumar Sharma, Jagdish Singh Khosa, Umesh Kumar Sharma and Dr Karmvir Singh, along with Sanjiv Pass Book the publisher of the book, for spreading communal hatred.
A case under Sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, meant to outrage non-secular emotions of any class by insulting its faith or non-secular beliefs) and 120B (legal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Rasheed sent the relevant controversial paragraphs from the book to Muzzled Voices. He pointed out, “In a chapter on ‘Terrorism, Criminalisation of Politics and Corruption’, the Class XII authorities Political Science textbook allegedly talks about Islamic terrorism. And on web page 257, it asks: ‘Which one of the following is not the main objective of Islamic terrorism?’ The choices have been: ‘Establishment of Muslim nation in the world; Resistance of western non-Muslim powers through violent activities; Peace in the world; Implement Islamic laws and principles in the world.’ On the subsequent web page, underneath Short Answer Type Questions, query 5 reads: ‘What do you think of Islamic terrorism?’
Rasheed told Muzzled Voices, ““By directly associating Islam with terrorism and then repeatedly using ‘Islamic terrorism’, the books promote hatred towards Islam and defame the religion. They also attempt to provoke Muslim students and the community and hurt their sentiments. It is also an attempt to insult Muslim teachers and students by insulting their religion and humiliating them.”
This is not the first time that communal poison has been spread among young minds, during the BJP rule in different parts of the country.
Rasheed said that the police are investigating his complaint and expects appropriate action from them.