India: Tripura Board of Secondary Education Withdraws Pol Science textbook that described BJP as a 'communal party'

The Times of India
Tripura withdraws book branding BJP 'communal'
TNN | May 1, 2014, 02.26 AM IST

AGARTALA: The Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) on Wednesday withdrew a textbook of political science for Class XI which described BJP as a 'communal party'.

The state unit of BJP had been seeking withdrawal of the book and an investigation against the writer.

Regretting the unwarranted remarks against BJP in the textbook, TBSE president Amitava Debroy said the book has been withdrawn from schools. "The decision to ban the book is not in my jurisdiction, but I shall not allow it in schools," he said. He added that the administration is yet to decide on the plan of action against the author of the book, Prasanta Pramanik. Prasanta is from West Bengal.

"We are also equally responsible for the mistake. However, the TBSE shall remain careful so that no such politically motivated issue is included in any textbook," said Debroy.

Later, BJP expressed happiness over the Board's decision and termed it as a victory of the movement of the party. Earlier, the party had lodged a complaint with chief election commissioner V S Sampat over alleged attempts to malign the party's image among students.

The party's state intellectual cell convener, Prasenjit Chakraborty, said in the Class XI exam of political science at AD Nagar School in Agartala, students were asked to name a communal political party out of Congress, CPI (M), BJP and BSP, taking reference from the textbook. "After an investigation, it was found that the book approved by TBSE branded BJP as a communal party in the country and CPM as the most secular and democratic party," said Chakraborty.

He alleged that the state government through its education system is desperately trying to defame one political party.