Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ram Shankar Katheria today said "controversial subjects" will be removed from school textbooks in the states and only those which enhance the "pride of the nation" will be allowed to taught.
"Not all states have BJP government. But, wherever questions have been raised regarding school syllabus, we have got them inquired. Only subjects which are right and enhance the pride of our nation will be allowed to be taught and all that which are controversial will be removed," he said.
He was responding to reports on Class IX school textbook of Tripura removing references to national icons and introducing 'Adolf Hitler' as a subject. There were also reports of removal of references to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru from Class VIII textbooks in Rajasthan.
Katheria was addressing reporters here on completion of two years of Narendra Modi government in office.
Speaking on the new education policy, the MoS HRD said it was likely to be out in another two-three months.
"Appropriate policy on education will be accepted and implemented ... Whether people call it saffronisation or an act of Sanghis. We expect it to be out in another 2-3 months. Everything is complete. We will not implement it directly, but first present it to people for their reaction before finalising it," he said.
"We have thrice met education ministers from various states. The policy should be as per the country's need and will be directed at resolving challenges before us in education sphere," he said.
Speaking on the achievements of the Modi government, Katheria said the government gave a go-ahead to 10 world-level universities in both government and private sectors, and announced opening six new IITs and IIMs in the last budget, for which work on acquiring land has begun.
"This is the first time that in our budget we are going to open 3,000 government medical stores across the country, which will provide medicine at affordable rates, and other related products. Also, under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan we constructed six lakh toilets, and our ministry alone made four lakh toilets in school," he claimed.
On the controversial Ayodhya Ram temple issue, Katheria said it was a matter of faith and sentiments.
"Ram Mandir is a matter of our faith and sentiment and is not a political matter. It is pending before the court. We want to allow the temple to be constructed," he said.
