Textbook row: Members of Cong students wing try to create ruckus at Minister's house; 15 held
Bengaluru, June 1: Some members of the Congress' student wing - NSUI (National Students Union of India) - allegedly tried to stage a protest and besiege the house of Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh at Tiptur in Tumakuru district of Karnataka on Wednesday over the school textbook controversy.
The activists were said to be protesting against the textbook review committee, headed by Rohith Chakratirtha, and alleged inclusion of RSS's philosophy in school textbooks. There have been demands for sacking Chakratirtha for allegedly saffronising school textbooks by including in them a lesson on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's speech, and for changing the content in the books.
There are also allegations of erroneous content on a 12th century social reformer Basavanna in the textbook, also accusations on insulting poet Kuvempu.
"NSUI workers barging into the premises of the Education Minister B C Nagesh's house and creating a ruckus is condemnable. Such a conduct does not suit students... Merciless action will be taken against those involved in such acts," Bommai tweeted.
State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra's office, in a statement, said the miscreants, said to be from NSUI, entered the premises of Nagesh's house, raised slogans and set fire to the uniform of the RSS.
Police stopped things from getting out of control and took 15 people into custody.
Jnanendra, also in-charge of Tumakuru district, visited Nagesh's residence and took stock of the situation.
Condemning the incident, he said a policeman was injured in the incident. "Strict action will be taken against those involved." The police intervened and pushed protestors outside the premises of Minister's house, official sources said, adding that 15 people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
As the news of the alleged ruckus by NSUI activists at Nagesh's house spread, several of his Cabinet colleagues, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, condemned the incident.
Jnanendra, who is also in-charge of Tumakuru district, visited Nagesh's residence and took stock of the situation.
He said a policeman was injured in the incident. "Strict action will be taken against those involved."
State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, State Health Minister K Sudhakar, PWD Minister C C Patil and Power Minister Sunil Kumar too condemned the students wing members.
Meanwhile, Bommai said Nagesh would submit a report on textbook revision on June 2 in the wake of the controversy.
A few seers and literary figures have written to Bommai seeking action on the controversy.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
