Srinagar: The governor administration has ordered schools, colleges and public libraries in Jammu and Kashmir to procure “sufficient number of copies” of Bhagwat Geeta and Ramayan’s Urdu translation even as former chief minister Omar Abdullah questioned the “selective” move.
“The School Education Department, Higher Education Department, Director Colleges, Director Libraries and Culture Department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies each of Urdu version of ‘Shrimad Bhagwat-Geeta’ and ‘Koshur Ramayan’ authored by Shri Sarwanand Premi for making these available in Schools/ Colleges and public libraries etc. of the State,” reads an order issued by under secretary to government on October 22.
The order says the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by one of Governor Satya Pal Malik’s advisors on October 4.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah raised questions over the move.
“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?” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
