By IANS,
Kozhikode : Student and youth organisations of Kerala’s opposition Congress party are planning to intensify their agitation demanding the withdrawal of a class VII social studies textbook, which they allege tries to indoctrinate children with the communist ideology.
“The Youth Congress will organise demonstrations at district collectorates on June 23 demanding the withdrawal of the textbook,” Youth Congress state president T. Siddique told reporters here Saturday.
On Thursday, the demonstration by the activists of Kerala Students’ Union (KSU), the student wing of the Congress, to collectorates witnessed widespread violence after demonstrators clashed with the police resulting in injuries to both sides.
Siddique said they will not stop the agitation till the government withdraws the textbook.
“The minister today (Saturday) said that he is ready to examine the complaints regarding the textbook. At the same breath he also contends that there is no problem with the book.”
The Youth Congress leader alleged that book was issued without discussing it at the SCERT (State Council of Education Research and Training) and it was prepared by a group of experts who are close to the Left Front government.
The Congress party state president Ramesh Chennithala said at Kochi Saturday that the agitation by KSU will continue till the government withdraws the book.