Srinagar: J&K government on Tuesday quietly withdrew an order to introduce Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana in state schools and other educational institutions after it threatened to snowball into a major controversy.

The decision to introduce Urdu version of Bhagavad Gita and Kashmiri version of Ramayana in educational institutions was taken at a meeting chaired by B.B. Vyas, advisor to governor Satya Pal Malik, on October 4. The order was however issued on October 22.

“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,” reads the order, accessed by The Wire.

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Subsequently directives were issued to directors of school education in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, authorities in higher education department, director libraries and cultural department for early implementation of the decision in the state, which is presently under governor’s rule.

But the move evoked sharp criticism from politicians and social media users. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah was the first to question the government’s go-ahead to “only selective religious books” 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,” Abdullah wrote on twitter.

Why just the Gita & Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, collages & 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? pic.twitter.com/UqxMG0NpMJ — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2018

RTI activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat implied that the move signalled the Centre’s Hindutva agenda. “When the local government is controlled by the Centre, such a move is not unexpected. BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been trying to saffronise the schools. Kashmiri students will have to read Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita, but there is no mention of Quran? Why this religious divide? In spite of Muslims being the majority in previous local governments, teaching of Quran was never enforced for minorities in Kashmir,” he said.

However, surprisingly it was the J&K police and not the education department that first tried to put the controversy to rest.

He said he wasn’t against reading of religious scriptures but questioned why it was enforced through a government order.

As controversy began to brew, it was withdraw on Tuesday morning by the government, less than 20 hours of issuance.

J&K police steps in

However, surprisingly it was the J&K police and not the education department that first tried to put the controversy to rest. “Circular issued by the education department regarding introduction of some religious books stands withdrawn ab initio under the orders of chief secretary,” J&K police said on its official twitter handle at 11:19 am.

Half-an-hour later, at 11:49 am, the state information department issued a separate statement, withdrawing the order. “The Communication No: Edu/Genl/35/2013 dated: 22-10-2018 issued by School Education Department to the Director School Education Kashmir/Jammu has been withdrawn ab-initio on directions of the Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam,” the statement said.

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Authorities in school and higher education department were however tight lipped over the decision.

“I have no idea about any such communication,” said director of school education (Kashmir) Ghulam Nabi Ittoo. “I will have to check first before I can speak over the issue.” Authorities from school education department of Jammu, as well as those from higher education, also claimed ignorance about the order. “We haven’t come across any such order yet,” said a senior official in state higher education department.

A senior official however said the top brass of J&K police sensed that the controversial order could create a law and order problem. “The matter was taken up with the office of chief secretary following which it was withdrawn immediately,” said the official.

Former state advocate general Mohammad Ishaq Qadri said the order to introduce religious scriptures in schools was constitutionally illegal. “Ours is a secular state and the government is a religion-less body. How can they promote particular scriptures? It is against spirit of constitution,” said Qadri.