BENGALURU: A fresh controversy has erupted in the state over charges of “rewriting history” by the BJP-led government, as the textbook revision committee has reportedly inserted a section on Vinayak Damodar Savarakar in the revised high school curriculum.
The Class 8 Kannada textbook has a section that reads, “Vinayak Savarkar used to sit on the wings of a bird and fly out to visit the homeland while he was imprisoned in the Andaman jail.” A passage in the new revised textbook reads, “There was not even a keyhole in the cell where Savarkar was incarcerated. But, Bulbul birds used to visit the room, and Savarkar used to sit on their wings and fly out and visit the motherland every day.”
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, also called ‘Veer Savarkar’, was a freedom fighter who was incarcerated in tough conditions in the Cellular jail at Andaman and Nicobar jails during the colonial rule. The BJP and Congress are often at loggerheads over Savarkar’s role in the freedom movement.
Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy had alleged last week that the BJP was “unnecessarily” encouraging the issue of Veer Savarkar and the Congress was pouring in petrol to further ignite it. “The BJP is unnecessarily encouraging the Veer Savarkar issue to spoil the atmosphere of the state. The Congress is pouring petrol on the issue to further ignite it,” Kumaraswamy had remarked.
The remarks came amid a row over the comments by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah’s comments on the ongoing Savarkar poster row in Shivamogga, which saw clashes on Independence Day. The police had imposed prohibitory orders underSection 144 in parts of Shivamogga district after a clash over Savarkar and Tipu Sultan’s banners on Independence Day.
Meanwhile, just days after being inducted into the BJP’s parliamentary board and central election committee, former CM B S Yediyurappa launched a Savarkar Rath yatra in Mysuru last week. (ANI)