Bengaluru, Jul 31: The Karnataka government on Wednesday put on hold a controversial proposal to drop certain chapters, including on Islam, Christianity, Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali, from social science textbooks to reduce the 2020-21 syllabi for students in classes 1-10.
Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption caused to the academic calendar of the year, the government had earlier dropped the chapter on Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali from the Class 7 social science textbook, saying chapters on Tipu Sultan have been retained in the Class 6 and 10 textbooks.
The move did not go down well with the opposition, which saw certain ulterior motives behind the decision.
Apparently under sharp criticism, the Department of Public Instruction issued a new notification on Wednesday "on the directions of the Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar".
There is a delay in opening the schools during the academic year 2020-21 due to COVID-19 pandemic, said the latest order.
In this context, the order said, chapters were dropped to fit in 120 days of the academic year for classes 1 to 10 and the same was published in the department's website.
"However, on the directions of the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, the decision to drop certain chapters has been put on hold. A review will be done following which the deleted chapters will be uploaded in the website," the order read.
Earlier in the day, Mr Kumar had issued a statement, saying that the decision to truncate the syllabus has not been finalised yet. He also made it clear that his department would not remove chapters unnecessarily.
Former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah had attacked the government on the issue.
"The government, which has failed to control the spread of coronavirus, is using it as an opportunity to push its clandestine agenda of saffronising the textbooks," Siddaramaiah tweeted.
Bengaluru, Feb 19: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is facing major dissent within the party and the BJP MLAs held a meeting on Tuesday night at former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar's residence to discuss the functioning of Yediyurappa-led government, said BJP sources.
According to BJP sources, some of the unhappy BJP leaders and MLAs met last night at Shetter's place and expressed that they are not satisfied with Yediyurappa's leadership.
Last night's meeting shows that party leaders are looking to bring down Yediyurappa from the Chief Minister's post by sending a clear message to the high command that Yediyurappa is incapable of continuing as the CM, said BJP sources.
Other sources in BJP have also asserted that BJP leadership in Karnataka is looking for a "leader" who can lead the party in upcoming elections which is going to be held after three years. At this point of time, it's crucial for BJP to promote second-line leadership.
Meanwhile, a letter is being circulated in the BJP party forum and over social media against Chief Minister Yediyurappa's leadership.
It looks like the same team which is unhappy with Yediyurappa's leadership is trying to convey the same message to their high command. The letter which is being circulated says to be written by one of these leaders' groups against Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra.
On this, Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy told media, "Maybe the letter is written by the same MLAs because after the expansion of Karnataka cabinet so many leaders from BJP were kept out."
"There is a lot of discontent among BJP MLAs that the ones who have toiled for the party day and night have been neglected from the cabinet expansion. This will definitely result in destabilisation in the government," said Eshwar Khandre, KPCC Working President.
Now party high command needs to look into Karnataka leadership to manage the government in the state.
"Now BJP leadership in Karnataka and Delhi need to look into the matter and need to solve the issue after cabinet expansion," said a BJP leader.
Mangaluru, Jul 6: Two fresh deaths in last 24 hours have taken the total number of covid-19 deaths in Dakshina Kannada district to 24.
The deceased are a 52-year-old woman from Ullal and a 52-year-old man from Thokkottu.
The man was suffering from cardovascular disease and pneumonia, sources said.
The woman passed away in Wenlock hospital.
More details are awaited.
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