MP govt to introduce chapters from Gita in Urdu schools

Its latest notification issued on August 1 permits adding one chapter each based on Bhagvad Gita to textbooks of General Hindi prescribed to Class III to VII and Special English and Special Urdu in Class I and Class II.

When the government first made its intention to introduce essence of Gita in state schools,Catholic Bishops Council had moved the High Court with a prayer that essence of all religions should be taught not just Hinduism.

The court dismissed the petition saying Gita contained philosophy and not religious teachings as the PIL sought to argue.

In the matter of introducing Surya Namaskar in schools,however,the government had received a setback after the court asked it to not make participation compulsory. For the last few years,mass Surya Namaskar is being conducted across the state schools.

While Muslim organisations are yet to make their stand clear on the latest notification,the Congress has alleged that the government was trying to divert public attention from the charges of corruption involving its ministers. Spokesman Abhay Dubey said the opposition party will subject the notification to legal scrutiny.

Only last week,the government announced that yoga education will be made compulsory from Class 1 to Class 5.