SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday withdrew a circular calling for the introduction of Urdu version of Bhagavad Gita and Kashmiri version of Ramayan in all educational institutions of the state.
“Circular issued by the education department regarding the introduction of some religious books stands withdrawn ab initio under the orders of the chief secretary,” Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a tweet today.
The circular issued yesterday had asked the education department to keep the books available in the public libraries as well.
The decision, according to the circular, had been taken in a meeting chaired by an advisor to Governor B B Vyas on October 4.
“The school education department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies each of Urdu version of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Koshur Ramayan authored by Shri Sarwanand Premi for making these available in schools,” read an official communiqué dated 22.10.2018 sent by under-secretary school education department to directors, school education Kashmir/ Jammu.
Similar directions have been issued to the higher education department, director libraries as well as the culture department of the state.
The officers have been asked to initiate further process after following all codal formalities required as per rules.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had questioned why only selective religious books are to be placed in schools colleges and government libraries.
“Why just the Gita and Ramayana? 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,” he said, in a tweet.