Test paper dubs Netaji as ''Fake nationalist'' leader;FIR lodged

Kendrapada, Jan 11 (UNI) Orissa Krushak Sabha leader Gayadhar Dhal has filed an FIR in the local police station here against the publisher of the Malhotra Book Depot (MBD) test paper for depicting Netaji Subash Chandra Bose as 'fake nationalist leader''.

The MBD in its MIL test paper for class VII students of the state described Netaji Subash Chandra Bose as ''Bhanda Jatiyabadi Neta'' (fake nationalist leader) at page 45 of the Oriya test paper.

'' The publisher of the text book P K Mishra with an ulterior motive had defamed the role of Netaji in the Freedom movement by describing the great leader as a fake nationalist leader, '' Mr Dal said in his FIR.

Last week, the members of District Krushak Sabha brought the matter by writing letters to the President of India, Prime Minister, Orissa Governor and the Chief Minister, urging them to take necessary action against the publisher.

Mr Dhal said, '' Since he did not receive any reply to the letters, we decided to file an FIR against the publisher of the text book. '' It may be noted here that last year,a text book of the Board of Secondary Education described noted martyr Bhagat Singh as a ''terrorist''.

The publisher was forced to rectify its mistake in the wake of strong protest and government intervention.

Noted freedom fighter and president of State's Freedom Fighters' Association Purosottam Nayak said it was shame for everybody that the publisher of a text paper from Cuttack wrongly illustrated the great leader, who sacrificed his life for the country's freedom, as a ''fake nationalist leader'' Incidentally, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack in Orissa and had his schooling from the Ravenshaw Collegiate school in Cuttack.

UNI XC-DP SJC DB2140