INLD seeks Arjun Singh's removal on NCERT issue

Chandigarh, Sept 1: Holding Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh responsible for derogatory references against the Jats and other communities in the NCERT books, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today demanded his removal from the Union cabinet.

The party, led by former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, also demanded ''strictest punishment'' against the authors who wrote the derogatory references in the two text books of class VIII and XII.

''We urge the President of India to remove Mr Arjun Singh from the Union cabinet who has been indulging in divisive politics through one or the other issue,'' INLD secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala, son of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said at a press conference held here after a meeting of the state executive of the party.

He said the executive passed a resolution in this context criticising the UPA government at the Centre and the Hooda government in Haryana which did not act promptly and responsibly to assuage the sentiments of the Jat community.

The Chautala junior also criticised the Hooda government for not withdrawing the two text books with derogatory references from the state schools. The books should have been withdrawn and then destroyed, he said.

Former Finance Minister Sampat Singh, who was also present, accused the Hooda government of ''misleading'' the people of the state by claiming that the objectionable references had been expunged from the NCERT books in the state.

The state government, he said, had merely banned the further sale of these books in the state which meant the existing books being taught in the schools had been left untouched.

UNI