The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP walkout in Assembly

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Thursday, Mar 27, 2008
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BJP walkout in Assembly

Staff Reporter

Over ‘objectionable references’ to Ramyana characters in DU history book

NEW DELHI: The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday staged a walk-out in the Delhi Assembly over “objectionable references” about Ramayana characters in some portions of the history syllabus of Delhi University.

Raising the issue during Special Mention, Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi said the book, part of the syllabus of B.A. (Honours) History, had several objectionable references to Ram, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman which hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. Prof. Mukhi also tabled a copy of the “objectionable references”.

Subsequently Prof. Mukhi demanded that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit immediately meet the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor and also the Human Resource and Development Minister Arjun Singh and ensure that objectionable references were removed from the book.

No statement

The Opposition then demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue. When Ms. Dikshit did not make a statement, the BJP MLAs got up from their seats and resorted to slogan-shouting.

With the Opposition members refusing to calm down, Speaker Prem Singh expelled BJP MLAs Harsharan Singh Balli, Kulwant Rana, Shushil Choudhary and Subhash Sachdeva. After the four members were escorted out of the House by marshals, Prof. Mukhi, Sahib Singh Chauhan, Mohan Singh Bisht and other BJP leaders staged a walk-out. However, they re-joined the proceedings after some time.

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