Jammu and Kashmir government withdraws order to issue Gita, Ramayana books to all schools

Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam on Tuesday withdrew order issued by the education department “to procure in bulk Urdu and Kashmiri version of Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan in all educational institutions and libraries of Jammu and Kashmir”.

The order was issued on Monday and came under criticism from political parties and civil society groups. “The Communication issued by the School Education Department has been withdrawn ab-initio on the directions of Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam,” an official spokesman said.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah had questioned the government move. “Why just the Gita and Ramayana? If religious texts are



to be placed in schools, collages 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? [sic]” said Mr. Abdullah.

The order, which was issued after a meeting president of Governor Satya Pal Malik’s advisor B.B. Vyas, evoked a huge response on social media too.

“Now Kashmiri Muslim students will have to read Ramayana and Bhagwad Gita but no mention of Quran. Why this religious divide? In spite of Muslims being in a majority, the local governments never in the past enforced teaching of Quran for minorities in Kashmir. We will resists these ugly designs,” said Raja Muzaffar, a RTI activist.