AFTER UPROAR, STATE STOPS DISTRIBUTION IN MUMBAI

MUMBAI:UNDER fire from the Opposition, the state has now stopped distribution of Bhagwad Gita in colleges.

A few days ago, the state’s director of higher education had sent letters to its various regional offices, directing them to facilitate disbursal of the Hindu religious scripture, provided for free by a Bhiwandi-based trust, to colleges graded A+ or A by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). DVDS of the Gita made by city-based Vishuddhi Films, with the help of MP government, were also given away.

The joint director (Mumbai region), higher education, had, on Wednesday, issued a letter to all colleges in the region, a copy of which is with HT, asking them to collect their copies from his office. Following the uproar in the Assembly, the government stopped the distribution of the book and the DVDS in Mumbai region, which has 240 colleges, including over 36 A and A+ colleges, said an official. However, all 17 A and A+ colleges in Panvel have received copies of the book, while all 94 colleges in the region received copies of the DVD, said another official.

“The directorate’s order tramples upon the Constitution... The government shouldn’t play with the future of students and the Constitution,” said Sachin Bansode, president, Chhatra Bharti Student Organisation, Mumbai.

Last month, the government decided to distribute a book written by Prashant Pol, national head of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Vishwa Samvada Kendra to 12,000 public libraries.