NCERT: Joshi interrupted; BJP, allies walk out

Protesting the ‘‘long-winding’’ approach, Congress and Left members were on their feet as soon as Joshi began to note that several panels set up by previous Congress governments had reviewed NCERT’s books (that were replaced during his tenure) but had not pointed to the ‘‘objectionable portions’’. ‘‘It was completely ignored or purposefully kept the way it was, giving misinformation to children,’’ Joshi said, adding that Singh’s reply concealed more than it revealed.

By then the din in the House threatened to drown proceedings, so much so, that Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had to ask Joshi to be precise. The ruling party members were heard shouting, ‘‘ab aapki time gayi (now your time is over)’’, on which Joshi walked out of the House along with his allies.

I&B Minister Jaipal Reddy told the Chairperson that ‘‘this is a very unhealthy (trend)’’. Later, a suggestion was made for a discussion on the issue.

Interestingly, before the uproar, the HRD Minister had to face uncomfortable questions from CPI(M)’s Sarla Maheswari too. If Ahluwalia asked why the Minister was getting the same bunch of historians, who had written ‘‘derogatory’’ things about Sikh, Jain and Jat leaders, to evaluate the books, Maheswari wanted to know why the Government set up the review panel when the Congress had found errors in every page of the new books.