The removal of 23 chapters on Sikh history from Punjab school textbooks, has caused quite a stir among the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders in Punjab and Delhi. As per reports, 23 chapters from class 12 history book of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) pertaining to important aspects of Sikh history on Sikh gurus and their teachings, including Anglo-Sikh wars, the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and annexation of Punjab were removed from the textbooks to ‘bring the syllabus on a par with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’.
BJP and SAD leaders have registered their strong protest against the removal of these chapters. BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Bagga told OpIndia that if the printing isn’t stopped and old syllabus isn’t reinstated, he will go on indefinite hunger strike from 4th May. He even took to Twitter to voice his anger.
पंजाब सरकार द्वारा पाठ्यक्रम से सिख गुरु,बाबा बन्दा सिंह बहादुर,महाराजा रणजीत सिंह और सिख नायको का इतिहास हटाना शर्मनाक है।मै @capt_amarinder को अगले 72 घंटे में उस पवित्र इतिहास को दुबारा जोड़ने की मांग करता हूँ,नही तो 4 मई से मै कैप्टन सरकार के खिलाफ आमरण अनशन पर बैठूंगा ।
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) May 1, 2018
SAD leader and Delhi MLA Majinder Sirsa, too, chimed in to register his anger.
मैं और @Akali_Dal_ के सभी कार्यकर्ता @TajinderBagga के साथ हैं।
सिखों के गौरवमयी इतिहास को @INCIndia सालों से दरकिनार करती आई है।
कम से कम पंजाब स्कूलों के पाठ्यक्रम में ये नाइन्साफ़ी नही होनी चाहिये और न हम होने देंगे!!! https://t.co/SwbSqx9TN5
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) May 1, 2018
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder, however, has denied such deletion of Sikh history from school.