Will do deep introspection of Congress performance in DK, Udupi: UT Khader

Mangaluru, July 30: The Social Democratic Party of India has condemned the move by the state government to drop a lesson on legendary Mysuru rulers Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan from the class 7 textbook.

The Department of Public Instruction has omitted the chapter from the textbooks of Class 7 in their attempt to reduce syllabus for state board schools by 30 per cent.

The department, however, has decided to retain similar chapters on Tipu Sultan in 6th and 10th Classes, though the syllabus in text books for all classes from 1 to 10th has been trimmed. 

In a media release statement, SDPI State President Ilyas Mohammed Thumbe termed the move as communally motivated. “By dropping the lesson, the BJP-led government is engaged in saffronisation of education,” he alleged.

He said that Tipu was the most prominent freedom fighter, who had given priority to irrigation, rocket technology and harmony. The BJP government is also planning to scrap lessons on the Constitution, secularism and democracy. By twisting history, the BJP is trying to mislead the younger generation, he added.

Bengaluru, Aug 4: As the stage is set for the ground-breaking ceremony for Ram temple construction at Ayodhya on Wednesday, retired Supreme Court judge N Santosh Hegde has called for the promotion of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence and respect for different faiths.

"It is a good idea to make that as an object of the temple so that there can be peace in the world," the former Solicitor General of India said when asked if the temple should be promoted as a symbol of national integration, and social and communal harmony.

Hegde said one of the most dangerous things for conflict today is religion. "In that background, there should be some effort from somebody or other to bring about peaceful coexistence, respecting each religion," the former Karnataka Lokayukta told PTI on Tuesday. "It is a good idea to start Bhumi Pujan as an indicator of that or foundation for developing harmony among various religions," he added.

The Supreme Court had in November last year paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple by a Trust at the disputed site of the Babri Masjid's demolition in Ayodhya. It also directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5- acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a "prominent" place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh government has allotted a five-acre land in Dhannipur village in Sohaval Tehsil of Ayodhya for the mosque's construction.