The issue of controversial cartoons in textbooks generated heat in the Lok Sabha today with members demanding immediate action in the matter saying the sketch has hurt sentiments of a section of the society.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Harsimrat Kaur (SAD) and Shailendra Kumar (SP) demanded that the CBSE textbooks carrying the cartoons should be removed immediately.
They were joined by Congress members, including Sanjay Nirupam and Lal Singh, who demanded a clarification from the HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. Mr. Sibal was not present in the House.
Shailendra Kumar walked to the Chair and submitted some papers depicting objectionable cartoons. As he raised the issue from the Well, the Chair asked him to return to his seat.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K.Bansal clarified the government position saying, “Even before the matter came up before the House, the minister had noticed it and directed that the cartoons be removed from the books.”
When this did not pacify the members, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, “All objectionable material in textbooks and, if necessary, the books will be removed.”
Mr. Mukherjee assured the House that such books will not be prescribed and the entire publication will be withdrawn. He said the HRD Minister or he himself will apprise the House once steps have been taken.
Mr. Nirupam demanded that an apology should be rendered to those who have been insulted in the cartoons and appropriate action should be taken against the guilty.
Speaker Meira Kumar said the matter is important but asked them to raise it during Zero Hour.
Keywords: Ambedkar cartoon row, NCERT
"all objectionable material should and, if necessary, the books will be
removed"....... what a pity that the people making so whimsical remarks
are considered for the position of President Of our country!!!
does the government need to stoop so low to pacify the angry lords of the
"House of Commons"?
I am Swapnil Jaikumaar. I am born Neo Buddhist, I and my family members are closely related to Social Activities. We Neo-Buddhists(formerly Dalits) condemn these attacks. We are not against cartoon of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Everyone has freedom of speech and expression. This cartoon was published when Babasaheb was alive. We believe that He would had been the first to understand and appraise the Humour of this cartoon...By these attacks we the followers of Babasaheb are deeply pained...we don't support these. Stop attacks on freedom of speech...Speech is there both to praise and to criticize...it is our constitutional right...It was given to us by our beloved Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar...Don't strangulate our freedoms.
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