Hindu Religious Texts to Be Taught in MP Govt Schools: Chouhan; Says Their Insult Won’t Be Tolerated

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said Hindu religious scriptures will be taught to students in government schools and issued a warning to those trying to insult these revered texts, saying their acts will not be tolerated.

The senior BJP leader’s warning came in the backdrop of controversial statements made on the Ramcharitmanas, a Hindu religious book based on the Ramayan, by some political leaders in the last few days.

Addressing a programme in Bhopal, Chouhan said ancient Hindu epics are invaluable holy texts and they help in building moral character of human beings.

“The Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Vedas, the Upnishads, the Bhagwad Gita are our invaluable scriptures. These texts have the ability to make a human being moral and complete. We will also (along with other subjects) teach these religious books in government schools. Why not study them?” he said.

The Chief Minister lauded 16th-century bhakti poet Tulsidas for writing an epic like Ramcharitmanas.

Chouhan said, “I bow to Tulsidas ji who gave us scriptures like (Tulsidas) Ramayan. People who insult these great men will not be tolerated. In Madhya Pradesh we will make our children moral and ensure their all-round development by teaching these holy books.” The programme, ‘Sughosh Darshan’, was organised by Vidya Bharati, which runs a vast network of schools in the country.

Uttar Pradesh’s Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Sunday had alleged certain portions of the Ramcharitmanas “insult” a large section of society on the basis of caste and said these should be “banned”.

Earlier this month, Bihar Education Minister and RJD leader Chandra Shekhar landed in a controversy after he alleged certain verses of the Hindu epic promoted social discrimination.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)