Textbook row: Kerala minister meets Arjun

New Delhi, July 4: Kerala Education and Culture Minister M A Baby on Friday met Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to apprise him of the textbook controversy raging in the state and to push forward their demand for an IIT in Kerala.

“I apprised the minister of the textbook controversy and of the constitution of an expert committee to look into the issue. Arjun Singh, too, was surprised to know that something so innocuous could lead to such protests,” Baby said.

Baby also discussed with the HRD Minister the possibility of an IIT in Kerala and reminded him that the PM had in 2006 promised one for the state. “While IITs have been announced for several states this year, Kerala found no mention in it and that is disappointing. The HRD Minister has assured us that he would take up the matter with the PM. We also pushed forward the case for a regional centre of the Aligarh Muslim University to be set up in Mallapuram district and will also take it up with the Planning Commission for the purpose of fund allocation. We also want an English and Foreign Languages Centre of the Hyderabad University to be set up in Kerala and discussed that as well with the HRD Ministry,” Baby told The Indian Express.

On the textbook issue, Baby said the controversy was unnecessary and not based on facts. “The textbooks have been evolved through a democratic process and with the help of several well-known academicians in keeping with the guidelines of the NCERT. I strongly refute all allegations that the textbook contains anything atheistic or anti-religious. We have instituted an 18-member expert committee headed by well-known historian Prof K N Panikkar to elaborate on the academic and social credentials of the textbook,” said the minister.

The Social Science book introduced in Class VII Government schools has been the subject of controversy for some time now with political parties and religious organisation demanding its withdrawal.

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