Church and political leaders in India’s southern State of Karnataka have expressed dismay over the state removing chapters on Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad from the school syllabus. The state run by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also removed chapters on prominent leaders like Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali who once ruled the state.
“It is very sad to know that our children who are the future of this country will miss important subjects such as Christianity and Islam and their contribution to building brotherhood among all humanity,” Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore told.
“India is known for unity in diversity around the world. The respect and communal harmony among us is the best example in this world and if that subject in disturbed we will lose the secular India which we all are proud of.
“What India can give to this world is the uniqueness of our communal harmony, but depriving our children of this subject is an injustice to our children. We should teach them about brotherhood and communal harmony, which all religions teach.”
Archbishop Machado said the government is interfering with the constitution’s secular values and urged the state government “to take its decision back, if possible.”