Textbook row: Soni blasts PSEB chairman

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You are responsible for this. It is because of you I had to face all this …I feel you are also involved in this controversy

OP SONI, Punjab education minister

MOHALI :Punjab education minister OP Soni on Monday blasted Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) chairman Manohar Kant Kalohia, accusing him of “being involved” in the history textbook book controversy.

Soni, who was at the PSEB headquarters here to give job letters to Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, was faced with a volley of queries on the textbook row. Later, while leaving the venue, Soni lashed out at the PSEB chairman, saying that it was because of him (Kalohia) that he had to face all this.

“You are responsible for this…I feel you are also involved in this controversy,” he told Kalohia. On being asked about the government stance on the controversy, the minister said: “I don’t know why the government is being blamed for this controversy. There was a panel responsible to finalise the syllabus and we have been taking necessary measures.”

Captain Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government is under fire from the Shiromani Akali Dal over the alleged distortion of Sikh history in PSEB Class 12 textbook. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has already terminated services of historian Kirpal Singh as director of its Sikh history project holding him responsible for alleged distortions and objectionable remarks in the textbook.

Kirpal Singh heads the state government’s syllabus committee that prepared the book with alleged controversial content. The SGPC has also passed a resolution asking Amarinder Singh to apologise for the controversial content.