Committee to look into controversial textbook

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 2: The Kerala government announced a committee with eminent historian K N Panicker as its Chairman, for looking into the controversial VII standard textbook'.

State Education Minister M A Baby announced this in a statement in the Assembly amidst a walk out by the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).

The 18-member committee would look into the complaints regarding the VII standard textbook, revised textbooks and revised school syllabus and any other relevant matter, he said.

Mr Baby said any organisation or individual could approach the committee regarding any complaints on the textbook.

The committee had been asked to submit the report in three months.

Meanwhile, the UDF said that they would not cooperate with the committee.

Reiterating that the textbook should be withdrawn, the entire opposition walked out of the Assembly.

The controversy over the VII standard textbook had rocked the State Assembly from the first day of its session. The pro-Congress Kerala Students Union and the Youth Congress are on the streets demanding that the textbook should be withdrawn.

The Church had also come against the textbook and they have announced agitations.

UNI