RSS frowns on books on Christianity

The RSS wants the Chhattisgarh government to reverse a decision by the school education department to provide two books based on Jesus Christ and the Bible to school libraries, putting the BJP government in a fix. Ejaz Kaiser reports.

The RSS wants the Chhattisgarh government to reverse a decision by the school education department to provide two books based on Jesus Christ and the Bible to school libraries, putting the BJP government in a fix.

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"I was unaware of it (decision). A committee had selected the books. I have sought a detail report," School Education Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said.

Based on the report, the government will decide whether to withdraw the books, he said.

The RSS strongly objected to the books — Ahankaar by Anatole France on the message of Christ and Bible ki Kathayein by Manoharlal Verma.

"This is a part of a conspiracy by those who are using state machinery to propagate ideologies of Christianity," said Amar Bansal, state chief of Dharam Jagran Vibhag, an RSS wing.

Officials said the decision was taken by a selection committee with 22 members including educationists, writers, subject specialists, retired principals and poets.