THANE: Thousands of undergraduate students, studying under the University of Mumbai , have taken lessons on human rights violations, the caste divide in India, and the alleged communal bias of the Indian Army and police from a Foundation Course-II (FC-II) book that has material sourced from Pakistan’s defence website.

TOI reported on January 18 that Professor Michael Vaz authored the book, which has the controversial and communally sensitive content and is meant for first and second-year students. Vaz now claims that he was unaware that the selective content in the book came from the Pakistani site. "I was unaware that some of the content in the book was sourced from the Pakistan defence website. I do not want to talk on this issue, but will assure you that the new book will delete all such controversial references," Vaz told TOI. Critics had termed content in the book’s chapter " Human Rights Violations and Redressal " as controversial.

The book, published by Mannan Prakashan , stirred a string of protests from political parties, with senior BJP functionary Sanjay Kelkar and general secretary from Navi Mumbai, Santosh Pachlag, holding a demonstration and burning copies of the book at Vashi, Navi Mumbai on January 18.

Pachlag said that less than a week after the TOI report, Vaz sent him a letter of regret stating that the controversial content in the book was not his own comments, but were sourced from newspaper reports and articles on the net. "In his letter, Professor Vaz shared the URL from where he had copied the content. One of the links was that of Pakistan’s defence, wherein a commentator had painted a picture of India as an anarchic state torn by communal bias and caste-hatred," said Pachlag. "It’s all vague commentary taken out of context by the writer and used to demonize India. However, it is very unfortunate that our students should be taught all that and that too in their textbook."

Pachlag added, "The topics in the FC course are meant to sensitize the student community towards human rights violations and bring before it a true picture of the goings-on. Instead, the book is a propaganda tool for spreading lies about our nation and Professor Vaz has copied the content from a Pakistani website without bothering to verify the facts. Neither has the learned academician or the publisher thought it important to present a view and counter-view on the issue and now they want to wash their hands of the controversy."

Pachlag said the book’s publisher, Nitin Shah, has given an unconditional apology, but it is too little too late as students have prepared for their exams from the book which is bound to colour their minds.

The BJP functionary added that they will take up the case with the police and press for sedition charges against the author and publisher. "It is not only anti-national but also a fraud as there is a clear copyright violation here by the author."

Vaz, on his part, said his new book would be vetted carefully and any blame ascribed to political parties or the mentioning of names would be strictly avoided.