Children should not learn about Godhra train burning; Rajasthan withdraws textbooks from school classes

JAIPUR: Rajasthan government has withdrawn textbooks containing passages on the Godhra train burning incident that sparked the Gujarat riots. State Education Minister Madan Dilar says that the book is being withdrawn because it gives children wrong information about the incident and tries to glorify the killers. He said that it was the government's decision that school children should not learn the passage from now on and it was the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot who had misled the children. The books studied by the students of classes 9 to 12 are withdrawn.

"Lies are being spread about the Godhra incident and the society is being divided. Those who burned the train in Godhra are depicted as Hindus and called criminals. Madan Dilar said that the book mentions wrong things about the then Gujarat government. Madan Dilar also accused Govind Singh Dotasra, who was the education minister in the Gehlot government, of conspiring in this regard but Dotasra denied the allegation.

The textbook contained notes written by former IAS officer Harsh Mandar on the Godhra incident. It described the burning of the train and the subsequent attack on a section. It mentioned that people of other faiths had to hide their identities to avoid being attacked and that many children were still missing. It is reported that such remarks have angered the BJP-controlled state government. Harsh Mandar, who retired from service after the Gujarat riots, is currently working in an NGO. The CBI had earlier ordered a probe against him for allegedly violating foreign donation control rules.

On February 27, 2002, the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express carrying pilgrims from Ayodhya was set on fire at the Godhra railway station in Gujarat. 59 people were burnt to death. This incident led to the Gujarat riots. According to official figures, 1,044 people were killed, 223 people went missing and 2,500 people were injured in the riots.