Textbook controversy: "Will respectfully respond to Deve Gowda," says CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Jun 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said he will hold discussion with Education Minister and officials regarding the revised school textbook controversy, decide on possible measures and "respectfully respond" to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who has written to him on the issue.
He was referring to a letter written by Gowda demanding withdrawal of the revised textbook and continuation of old textbook revised by the previous textbook review committee by Baraguru Ramachandrappa.
"I will have a meeting with heads of the education department and the Education Minister on Wednesday where his (Gowda) letter will be discussed. His suggestions would be considered seriously and we will decide on whatever possible measures that could be taken, and will respond to him respectfully," Bommai said in response to a question on Gowda's letter.
Stating that numerous errors in the textbook cannot be rectified merely through corrigendum and separate printing of pages, Gowda in a letter to the Chief Minister dated June 20 said the revised textbooks should be withdrawn and be replaced with the previous one.
He also expressed support for the charter of demands by Vishwamanava Krantikari Mahakavi Kuvempu Horata Samiti.
The rights collective had staged a protest here on Saturday over the school textbooks row, giving a 10-day ultimatum to the Karnataka government to comply with their demands, which include withdrawal of the revised textbooks and continuation of textbooks designed by the previous Baraguru Ramachandrappa committee (under Siddaramaiah-led Congress regime).
Deve Gowda, state Congress president D K Shivakumar, former Supreme Court Justice V Gopala Gowda, former High Court Justice H N Nagmohan Das, pontiffs, writers were among participants of the protest mobilised by the Vishwamanava Krantikari Mahakavi Kuvempu Horata Samiti.
The JD(S) supremo in his letter said the revised textbooks are devoid of values like social justice, equality, and secularism professed by Dr Ambedkar and Kuvempu (a highly regarded Kannada poet).
Accusing the chairman of the textbook revision committee (Rohith Chakrathirtha) of insulting the state poet Kuvempu, state song, state flag, he noted that Ambedkar has been diminished, picture of Kuvempu has been removed from the social sciences textbook and key contents regarding the movement launched by Basavanna have been dropped, among other things.
Responding to another question, Bommai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his appreciation for the welfare programmes and development works of the state and union governments being implemented in the state.
He said Modi usually likes good governance and development-oriented administration.
"The Prime Minister's appreciation has given me more strength to work with greater vigour and efficiency," Bommai said.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
