Only Kashmir News Desk
Srinagar, Dec 6: While condemning the objectionable contents of a book published by a New Delhi-based publisher, the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) today constituted a seven-member autonomous Academic Committee headed by Khurshid Bismil.
The committee will have three members from Kashmir, two from Jammu, and one each from Pir Panjal and Chenab valley to check the content and standard of books. The Association said that no school will be allowed to prescribe any new book without approval of the committee.
The Association however said that the situation demands much more action than mere apologies. The Association announced that no new book will be introduced in any of its member private schools, before the same is approved by the Expert Committee.
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the blasphemous content published by a Delhi-based publication – Jay Cee Publications, Islamic Fraternity Jammu and Kashmir (IF) while addressing a presser in Srinagar has appealed to people in general and booksellers in particular, to boycott and blacklist the publishing company.
President Islamic Fraternity, Muhammad Aamir, said that the blasphemous content was a direct attack on Muslim sentiments and deserves strong condemnations and stern punishment for this act.
The proprietor of Paradise Book House, which is also one of the book dealers of the Jay Cee Publishers while condemning the publication of the content said that they had not brought or supplied the book. It said that the company had sent some samples to few schools by itself. Meanwhile, Jay Cee Publishers too has tendered its unconditional apology over the lapse.
Pertinently, The J&K administration on Sunday withdrew a Class 7 textbook from schools and sought an First Information Report (FIR) against the publisher for drawing a sketch of prophet Muhammad, which is considered blasphemous by Muslims.
“Jay Cee Publications Limited, New Delhi, has published a Social Studies book for Class 7 wherein content of a sensitive nature has reportedly been published and is in circulation. The book is stocked and distributed by Paradise Book Shop, Parraypora, Srinagar. It’s requested to take stern action against the publishing house and the distributor as per law,” Additional District Magistrate, Srinagar, Dr. Syed Haneef Balkhi, said in an order.
The move to lodge an FIR came hours after the J&K Board of School Education directed all schools in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh to not use the “contentious Class 7 ‘History and Civics’ textbook over the depiction of Muhammad”.
The controversial illustration showed a painting of archangel Gabriel and Muhammad. It drew criticism from local religious leaders and on social media. “There is absolutely no room for making any depiction of the Prophet,” Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi said.
