The government on Tuesday withdrew a circular calling for introduction of Urdu version of Bhagavad Gita and Kashmiri version of Ramayan in all educational institutions and public libraries of the state on the directions of chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, an official spokesman said.
Earlier, the announcement about withdrawal of order was made by the director general of police in a tweet, raising questions about why the announcement was made by the police department.
Director school education Kashmir (DSEK) also announced that no further action is required with regard to the earlier communication issued by the administrative department.
An official communiqué issued on Monday had asked the director education Kashmir and Jammu region, director colleges and director libraries to keep the holy books available in the public educational institutions and libraries as well.
The decision, according to the circular, was taken in a meeting chaired by BB Vyas, advisor to Governor, on October 4.
“The school education department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies each of Urdu version of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Koshur Ramayan authored by Shri Sarwanand Premi for making these available in schools,” read an official communiqué dated 22.10.2018 sent by under-secretary school education department to directors, school education Kashmir/ Jammu.
The officers have been asked to initiate further process after following all codal formalities required as per rules.
In wake of this, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah had questioned why only selective religious books are to be placed in schools colleges and government libraries.
“Why just the Gita and Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, colleges and government libraries (and I’m not convinced that they need/should be) then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored,” he said, in a tweet.