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YC, KSU to intensify agitation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Political Affairs Committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has decided to strengthen the ongoing agitations led by the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students’ Union against the controversial Class VII social studies textbook.

The committee, after evaluating the ongoing agitation and opposition to the textbook, has stopped short of taking the leadership of the agitation as it felt the time was not ripe yet, according to KPCC sources. The ongoing agitations by its student and youth organisations would get the full backing of the party, which has also decided to launch an awareness campaign to focus on the short comings in the controversial book.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy gave a brief about his meeting with the Chief Minister, who took the initiative to find a solution to the stir. Since the government was not willing to recall the textbook even after the expert committee, that they had appointed, had pointed out to several lapses, there was no alternative but to prepare for a long drawn agitation. The KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala also gave an update of the agitation and the party’s stand.

The committee rejected outright the Education Minister and the Chief Minister’s offer to bring about changes to certain portions in the textbook. The government should recall the English version of the textbook immediately, without waiting for a report from the expert committee, the committee felt.

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