'BJP So Corrupt In Its Mind That...': Karnataka Edu Minister On Proposal To Revise School Textbooks

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister said that the changes to be introduced in school textbooks will be in the interest of children, the exercise won’t be about pro-Congress or anti-BJP changes.

File photo of Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa.

Source : Twitter/@Madhu_Bangarapp

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Friday said that the previous BJP government tried to infuse its "corrupt" mindset into the system of studies. He stressed that the changes to be introduced in school textbooks will be in the interest of children, it won’t be about pro-Congress or anti-BJP changes amid reports that lesson on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar will be removed. The remarks come after the minister previously announced that the revision of school textbooks will be done this year and the matter will be placed before the Cabinet to seek its consent.

"BJP never understood children's mentality and what they are supposed to give to children. BJP is so corrupt in its mind that it wants to infuse it into the system of studies which we are against. We are not doing anything connected to Congress or anything against BJP. I have been saying from the first day, I have a job that is in the interest of children," Madhu Bangarappa told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Madhu Bangarappa, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Karnataka speaks on State Govt's proposal to revise school textbooks this year; says, "It is their(BJP) version because they have never understood children's mentality and what they are supposed to give to… pic.twitter.com/nFJheJctcB

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2023

The Congress in its poll manifesto had promised to undo the changes made to school textbooks when the BJP was in power and had also promised to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP).

According to the Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education, the changes will be done in a manner that doesn't hamper the budget too much. "It'll be done very soon and it will be handled by very professional people who have been very well-versed with education policies and what is the need of children."

What BJP says after losing, if BJP has lost (election), it is consolidating all these things it contributed in 4 years, he remarked.

The minister decline to specify changes that will be made in the textbook saying "necessary" changes will be made by experts.

Proposal For Revision Expected In Next Cabinet Meeting, BJP's C T Ravi Terms It As 'Intolerance'

Madhu Bangarappa asked on Thursday about reports stating that Congress may not carry out the promised revision this year as the textbooks have already reached the students. "No, we will do it this year itself by introducing whatever necessary as a supplementary. There is such a system and it has been done several times in the past. We have already begun the work in this regard.  It is also being ensured that there is no burden on the students because of this, " he said, as per news agency PTI.

He mentioned that after all these processes are completed, with the guidance of the Chief Minister it will be placed before the Cabinet and once it is passed there, it will be sent to students, keeping their interests in mind.

Bangarappa indicated that the proposal on the textbook revision will be placed before the Cabinet probably when it meets next.

Congress Wants To Eliminate Patriotism: BJP's C T Ravi 

Meanwhile, reports have stated that plans are on to remove some lessons from textbooks introduced by the previous BJP government, including one on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.

Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary C T Ravi termed the rumoured move as intolerance.

"They (Congress) had used the word intolerance, this shows that they have intolerance against a patriot. They have the right to oppose ideologically, but they don't have the moral right to question Hedgewar's patriotism. Lessons on Marx and Mao who are not from this country and were against democracy can be there in the textbook, but lessons on patriots like Hedgewar cannot be there. This is intolerance, let's see what they will do and our party will decide what to do," he said, as per PTI.

Speaking to news agency ANI, C T Ravi said that the Congress can't change history. "Everyone knows about Sangh Parivaar's patriotism...everywhere Sangh Parivaar's ideology is getting stronger, that can't be changed...our ideology is patriotism and does Congress want to eliminate patriotism and want to make this 'Mughalistaan'?," he remarked.

#WATCH | "They (Congress) can change syllabus, they're in power but they can't change the history. Everyone knows about Sangh Parivaar's patriotism...everywhere Sangh Parivaar's ideology is getting stronger, that can't be changed...our ideology is patriotism and does Congress… pic.twitter.com/ocnFUEuphc

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2023

Karnataka BJP MLA and former state minister CN Ashwath Narayan opined that the ruling Siddaramaiah government should constitute a committee for the matter of revision. "As a popular government, they should address the concerns of all sections of society. Government has to be inclusive, respect the sentiments of all communities and all people...I humbly call upon them, don't be in a hurry to do things," he added while speaking to ANI.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara dismissed BJP's remarks remarking that the party lost the election very badly and they are confused about what to do next. "They want to create an atmosphere so that they float. Let us see. Let them also wait and see what we do - our guarantees, our performance, and how the people react. We have promised the people of Karnataka that we will give good governance and we will do so," he said, as per ANI.

There was a textbook controversy during the previous BJP regime, with demands by opposition Congress and some writers for sacking the then textbook review committee chief Rohith Chakratirtha for allegedly “saffronising” school textbooks by including the speech of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar as a chapter and omitting chapters on key figures like freedom fighters, social reformers, and the writings of noted literary figures.

There were also allegations of erroneous content on 12th century social reformer Basavanna and certain factual errors in the textbooks, including accusations of disrespecting ‘Raashtra Kavi’ (national poet) Kuvempu and distortion of the state anthem penned by him. Initially the allegations were refuted but subsequently rectifications were made in some cases.