By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: The Bihar Assembly on Friday witnessed an uproarious scene over objectionable remarks against Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Allama Iqbal in a book written by Director of Higher Education, Bihar Government. Members of Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal demanded ban on the book and removal of the officer from the post.
Author J P Singh, who is also lecturer at Patna University, has allegedly described Sir Syed and Iqbal as communal and separatist leaders of Muslim community in his book “Adhunik Bharat Mein Samajik Parivartan” (Social Change in Modern India). The author has not spared even Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
As soon as the session began on Friday several RJD MLAs including opposition leader Abdul Bari Siddiqi, Kishanganj MLA Akhtarul Iman, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor and Rama Nand Yadav stood and strongly demanded the government to sack J P Singh from his post. They said that a person who disrespected Sir syed Ahmad Khan and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar does not deserve to be at the respected post. Hence he should be sacked without any delay.
“On Page No 156 of the book, the author has used objectionable language against Sir Syed and Iqbal. He has described them as communal and separatist,” said senior Urdu journalist Ashraf Asthanvi while talking to TwoCircles.net. “We cannot tolerate this dishonor to our respected leaders,” he told TCN.
The author has allegedly used filthy languages against the two great personalities of the country–Sir syed Ahmad Khan who gave a invaluable gift to the country in the shape of Aligarh Muslim University and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar whom India will be grateful to forever for architecting constitution of the country.
Asthanvi also criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking the issue seriously. I wrote a letter to him with a copy of the objectionable remarks on 10th February. I personally met him on 15th February in New Delhi and reminded him of the letter and entire case. He assured me of action as soon as he returns Patna but even more than three weeks later there is no action from the CM office on the issue,” Asthanvi said.
“The language of the book against our leaders has hurt our sentiments,” Asthanvi said informing that he has called a big agitation of Urdu journalists, intellectuals and community activists on 12th March in Patna. They will sit at a dharna for three hours and then will march towards Raj Bhawan demanding ban on the book and sacking of the officer.