Opposing the move to omit references to first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru from a Class VII textbook in Rajasthan, the state unit of Congress today held a demonstration here with PCC chief Sachin Pilot saying that it reflected the "mental bankruptcy" of the Raje government.
Pilot, who led the protest at the civil lines railway crossing, accused the state government of working in a "vindictive manner" by "deliberately" eliminating the names and contribution of big leaders.
"BJP has shown its mental bankruptcy by deliberately eliminating references to Jawahar Lal Nehru, who was not only the first Prime Minister of India but also a visionary world leader.
"The ruling party is trying to remove his contribution from the history books but he rules in the heart of the people," Pilot said at the demonstration.
He demanded that the government should include the reference to Nehru in the textbook before the session begins.
"Nehru introduced Panchayti Raj system, he implemented the principles of diplomacy and foreign policy which show the way to the present policy, he not only played important role in getting India independence but also contributed in the freedom struggle of other countries," he said.
PCC Vice President Archana Sharma said, "The mindset and the approach of the BJP government are seen by this act. They are taking the politics to a lower level.
"The government can change textbook but not the history but this is what the Raje government is doing in the state," she said.
Contribution of Nehru has been dropped from two chapters on freedom movement and India after independence of the revised Social Science textbook for Class VIII in Rajasthan which has been dubbed as a "shameless act" of the Raje government.
In the demonstration, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Ramesh Meena, former union minister Namonarain Meena, Senior Vice President of PCC Master Bhanwar Lal Meghwal, Jaipur District Congress president Pratap Singh, former MP Mahesh Joshi and others participated.
(REOPENS DES15)
The Congress leaders also burnt an effigy of Chief
Minister Vasundhara Raje and demanded that the references to Nehru be included back in the textbook within ten days.
"An agitation will be undertaken if the revision is not made within ten days," Pilot said.
Jaipur District Congress President Pratap Singh also targeted the state government and demanded that the details about the contribution of Nehru be included again in the textbook.
