Hooda for removal of controversial remarks from NCERT books

Chandigarh, Aug 23 (UNI) Concerned at the controversy over the description of Jats as looters in NCERT books, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today urged Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to expunge all such derogatory remarks from these publications.

All publications of the NCERT should be screened thoroughly and all derogatory remarks about any community, creed or region of the country be expunged, Mr Hooda said in a letter addressed to the Union Minister.

The Chief Minister drew his attention towards the ongoing '''unsavoury and unwarranted'' controversy over the derogatory words used for Jat community in the NCERT syllabus book for VIII standard for the last several years.

Mr Hooda also attached with the letter a copy of the extract from the chapter of the book for the perusal of the Union Minister. He observed that this kind of remarks about any Indian community vitiated the minds of the students and weakened the diverse social fabric of our country, which in turn, would undermine our national unity and integrity.

''Historically, Jats are hardworking, honest and patriotic peasant community who have always made tremendous sacrifice for the Indian society and nation. The undesired and undeserved comments have hurt the sentiments of the community. I may also point out that such distortions of historical facts also appear in several other publications of the NCERT,'' he added.

UNI MA RL HT1937