Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has questioned state Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration order that directed School Education Department (SED), Higher Education Department (HED) and others to purchase copies of religious scriptures the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta and Ramayana only.
Taking to micro-blogging site twitter, vice-president of National Conference (NC), said, ''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?.''
Mr Omar was reacting to an order issued by Under secretary to Government, School Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir. The order issued on October 22 said that a meeting chaired by advisor to Governor on October 4, 2018 took a decision in respect of SED.
It said the SED, HED, 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 Sarwanand Premi for making these available in schools, colleges and Public Libraries of the state.
''I am directed to request you to take further action as per rules and following all codal formalities required,'' the order issued by under secretary to government SED said.(UNI)