NCERT removes reference to Khalistan from Class 12 textbook after SGPA’s objection

New Delhi: The NCERT has removed the reference to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the Class 12 Political Science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to top education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body’s objection to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution is in the book “Politics in India since Independence”.

The dropped sentences are – “The resolution was a plea to strengthen federalism, but can also be understood as a plea for a separate Sikh nation” and “The more extreme elements called for secession from India and the creation of ‘Khalistan'”. Started Advocacy. The statements have been reworded as “the resolution was a plea to strengthen federalism”.

Sanjay Kumar said, “Representation was received from SGPC regarding withdrawal of objectionable material against Sikh community by misrepresenting Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution. A committee of experts constituted by NCERT to examine the issue and the decision was taken based on the recommendations of the panel.” , School Education Secretary, Ministry of Education.

Kumar said, “A corrigendum has been issued by the NCERT. While the physical books have already been printed for the new academic session, the changes will be reflected in the digital books.”

The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was a document adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1973. The resolution reaffirmed the party’s commitment to Sikhism and called for greater autonomy for Punjab. It also demanded that the city of Chandigarh should be handed over to Punjab and Punjabi should be given the status of second language in the neighboring states.

The deletion of several topics and passages from NCERT textbooks had triggered a controversy last month with the opposition accusing the Center of a “vengeful cover-up”.

At the center of the controversy was the fact that while the changes were notified as part of the rationalization exercise, some of the controversial deletions were not mentioned in them. This led to allegations about a bid to covertly remove these parts.

The NCERT had described the lapse as a possible lapse but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts. It has also said that the textbooks are anyway going ahead for revision in 2024 when the National Curriculum Framework begins. However, later the NCERT changed its stand and said that “minor changes need not be notified”.

Among the references that were removed from the Class 12 history textbook were passages on Mahatma Gandhi and how his quest for Hindu-Muslim unity “incited Hindu extremists”, and banned the RSS.

“Gandhi’s death had magical effect on the communal situation in the country”, “Gandhi’s quest for Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists” and “Organisations like RSS were banned for some time” Excerpts removed from textbook are of.

Months after the NCERT removed references to 2022 communal violence from two Class 12 textbooks, passages related to the Gujarat riots were also removed from the Class 11 Sociology textbook.