In a move expected to trigger controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the purchase of copies of the Gita and Ramayan for use in schools, colleges and public libraries.
The order has been conveyed to the director, school education, by under-secretary to the government, school education department, in a letter.
The letter states, “In a meeting chaired by the adviser to the governor on 4th October, the following decision has been taken in respect to school education. The school education department, higher education department, director [colleges], director [libraries] and cultural department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies of Urdu version of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and Koshur [Kashmiri version] of Ramayan, authored by Shri Saryanand Premi, for making these available in schools, colleges and public libraries etc. of the state.”
Why just the Gita & Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, collages & government libraries (and I’m not convinced that they need/should be) then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored? pic.twitter.com/UqxMG0NpMJ
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2018
Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and NC working president, questioned the motive behind the move. “Why just Gita and Ramayan?” Omar wrote on Twitter, further arguing, “If religious texts are to be placed in schools, colleges and government libraries (and I'm not convinced that they need/should be), then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored.”
The order to purchase the Gita and Ramayan is likely to evoke reactions from separatists and other Kashmir-based political parties as well. Many would deem the move as an attempt by the BJP to 'saffronise' education in the Muslim-majority state.
