Mumbai: The leaders of the Congress and the NCP in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday accused the BJP-led state government of trying to malign the image of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi through textbooks.
The leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demanded a removal of certain "defamatory references" to the former prime ministers from the state board's History textbook for class IX.
The House was adjourned for five minutes as the Opposition didn't listen to the pleas made by the Speaker to restore order.
A controversy erupted recently after the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, popularly known as Balbharti, had revised the syllabus for class IX.
"Balbharti has written defamatory writings on former PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in the book for History subject of class IX. We are against the remarks about the Emergency and Bofors (which found mention in the book). We demand that these particular sections be removed from the book and action be taken against those responsible," he said.
Joining Vikhe-Patil, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, "Everyone knows the contribution made by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The content has hurt the feelings of all the people of the country".
He said such "wrong and insulting writing" should be removed from the book immediately.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said, "The government has not published the book. It is the education board that publishes the books on its own. The authorities will be informed about their feelings and the government will take action against the content providers. The school education minister will look into it".
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