Srinagar: Board of School Education has directed all schools in Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh not to use the contentious class 7 ‘History and Civics’ textbook over the pictorial depiction related to Islam and directed the publishers to withdraw the text book immediately.
“All the schools of UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh affiliated either with CBSE, JKBOSE or any other Board of the country are directed not to use textbook of “History & Civics “, Edition, 2020 for class 7th published by JAY CEE PUBLICATIONS Pvt Ltd., New Delhi and if the textbook is being used in any school, it must be withdrawn immediately, otherwise strict action as warranted under provisions of law shall be initiated”, reads a notification by the Director Academics.
“While condemning the act of publication of certain material that has hurt the sentiments of the people, the publisher is directed to withdraw this textbook immediately from all the schools wherever it has been distributed, in spite of the publishing house having regretted the mistake made by them”.
Notably the notification has followed few hours after Director of Publication House ‘Jay Cee’ Publications Pvt. Ltd.’ JC Goyal tendered an apology over ‘unintentional mistake’ in the book.
Pertinently the pictorial depiction was condemned widely by religious scholars as well as political parties here. Shaykh-ul-Hadith Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, in a video message regarding the matter said that the there was absolutely is no room for making such a caricature that isn’t allowed in Islam and hurts the sentiments of Muslims.
National Conference president and Member of Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah also condemned the pictorial depictions relating to Islam in a History and Civics school textbook currently in circulation, asserting that it has hurt the sentiments of Muslims and also runs counter to the efforts of forging tolerance.
“Such irresponsible publications are hurtful and least helpful in preserving the values of dialogue and coexistence,” Abdullah said while condemning the caricatures.
“It seems that the government has thrown caution to the winds while dealing with such a sensitive subject. School books should be a beacon of respect, tolerance and peace that rejects practices and acts which are contrary to coexistence,” he said while demanding a thorough inquiry into the matter, saying those behind publishing such caricatures insensitive to Muslims should be dealt with as per the rule of the land.
