A controversy has broken out in Jammu and Kashmir over a book allegedly distributed to government school libraries that reportedly refers to terrorists and separatist leaders as "great personalities" and "legends."
According to allegations, the publication was supplied to government schools under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme and contains content portraying separatist figures such as Maqbool Bhat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah, Masarat Alam, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Maulvi Farooq as “legends".
Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, condemned the book, calling it a “grave offence" and demanding immediate action against those responsible for its publication and distribution.
Sharma alleged that the book praises Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and describes Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian-occupied Kashmir." He termed the content “academic jihad" against India.
“These books have been distributed to libraries in numerous schools across Jammu and Kashmir. This is a grave offence. A book that praises Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and refers to the region as ‘Indian-occupied Kashmir’ is objectionable and controversial. It must be banned immediately," Sharma said.
The BJP leader also sought accountability from everyone associated with the book's approval and circulation, including the author, publisher, expert committee and the Education Minister.
“Be it the author, the publisher, the expert committee or the Education Minister, everyone responsible must be held accountable. It is the duty of the head of the government to immediately remove the Education Minister. There is a specific agenda behind this. It is a massive conspiracy, and we have no doubt that the National Conference government is involved from top to bottom," he alleged.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S.P. Vaid also criticised the contents of the book, alleging that leaders including Masarat Alam, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Shah had promoted the agenda of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its establishment.
“By portraying them as legends, you are signalling to the next generation that if they wish to become legends themselves, they should emulate these figures… The book describes Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as the last hope for Kashmir. Is this truly the sentiment of Jammu & Kashmir?… You are effectively advancing the agenda of the Pakistani establishment and portraying India as an occupier—labelling the region Indian-occupied Kashmir," he said.
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