NEW DELHI, Apr 18:
Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani today strongly defended the appointment of Professor Y Sudershan Rao, a close RSS associate, as chief of the Indian Council of Historical Research, saying a person cannot be denied a job just because he happens to be a RSS man or having right wing views.
Talking to news channel Times Now, Ms Irani said as a Central Minister, she was doing her duties impartially and within the realm of the Indian constitution. She rejected the charge that under her leadership, Education policy of the country was being saffronised. ”For the first time in the country, Naredra Modi government is inviting people of India to give their views as what kind of education policy they wish to have,” she said, adding that the Centre has asked the states to ascertain opinion of every village panchayat and block about the policy. Asked why an RSS man having radical views was appointed to head the ICHR, Ms Irani said, ”This basically means that if you are an RSS or BJP man, you have no right to have job or an opinion”.
On why Mr Dinanath Batra’s book, who allegedly propagates right wing views, were being taught in Gujarat, the Minister said the state government has a right to decide the curriculum of its schools.
The appointment of Professor Rao has triggered a debate in political as well as academic circle. Historians have picked on what Mr Rao said were the agendas for his chairmanship, proving the authenticity of the Mahabharata and Ramayana and establishing their dates.
”His credential is not just this that he is an RSS man. I need to remind that he (Prof Rao) was made a national professor by the previous Congress Government,” Ms Irani added. (UNI)
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