“Promotes love jihad”: Parent objects to ‘Reena’s letter to her friend Ahmed’ in NCERT book chapter

In Madhya Pradesh, a parent has given a written complaint to the police accusing a NCERT book of promoting love jihad.

The Hindi daily LiveHindustan has reported that Dr. Raghav Pathak, a resident of Chhatarpur district, has alleged that a Class-3 book contains material that encourages 'love jihad'.

He claimed that in the chapter titled 'Chithi Aayi Hai' in the Environmental Studies book, a girl named Reema writes a letter to Ahmed and invites him to come to Agartala during holidays. The letter ends with 'Your Reena'.

Pathak has lodged his objection by giving a written complaint to the Khajuraho SDOP. Raghav Pathak said that his daughter studies in Class 3. On page number 17 of the NCERT EVS book, a girl named Reena writes a letter to a boy named Ahmed and at the end of the letter she writes ‘Your Reena’. He has strong objection to this. A Hindu girl is writing a letter to a Muslim boy and at the end she calls herself ‘his’, this clearly shows that the young kids will get attracted towards love. Incidents like love jihad will increase in the coming times.

He has requested to change the names of the characters or the removal of the story from the book.

Khajuraho SDOP Sunil Sharma has confirmed that Dr. Raghav Pathak has filed a complaint against NCERT's EVS book accusing it of promoting love jihad. Since the matter is related to the textbook, this application has been sent to senior officials and further action will be taken under the guidance of senior officials.