This Article is From May 12, 2012

Ambedkar cartoon in NCERT textbook: BJP slams Congress

Ambedkar cartoon in NCERT textbook: BJP slams Congress
New Delhi: BJP today slammed the government on the issue of cartoon of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar in school text books and accused Congress of "insulting" Gujjar, Jat, Sikh and Jain communities in text books.

"For the last two days, this government has been committing mistakes and apologising. It commits a mistake in the morning and apologises in the evening. Yesterday, the Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee apologised and today Union Minister Kapil Sibal said sorry," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He said BJP was "deeply hurt" that Ambedkar has been "insulted" in NCERT books.

"We strongly condemn the manner in which Ambedkar has been insulted. This is not a small offence. There are some offences which can never be forgiven. These textbooks have been taught for the last five years," Mr Hussain said.

He said such insults by Congress was not new.

"Congress has also insulted communities like the Gujjars, Jats, Sikhs and Jains in the textbooks.

Several such objectionable materials was removed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government," Mr Hussain claimed.

BJP hoped such offences would not be repeated by this government.

Taking a dig at Mr Sibal, Mr Hussain said there have been several instances in the past when the minister had embarrassed the Manmohan Singh government.

"Sibal should guard against becoming a national burden while trying to become a national asset," he said.

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