A political controversy erupted in Maharashtra over the inclusion of verses from Manusmriti in the state school curriculum. The uproar intensified when Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad accidentally tore a photo of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar while burning a copy of Manusmriti.
Awhad has since apologised for the incident.
In a video message posted on X, Awhad said, “Some activists brought posters protesting Manusmriti (inclusion in school curriculum). Babasaheb Ambedkar’s picture was also on them. This poster containing the composite picture of Babasaheb Ambedkar was inadvertently torn by me. I apologise publicly for this.”
Row over Manusmriti inclusion
The controversy stems from the recent syllabus announced by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) under the National Education Policy. The new curriculum, for classes 3 to 12, recommends the recitation of Shlokas from Manusmriti and a chapter from the Bhagavad Gita.
A political backlash followed, with Congress, the NCP Sharad Pawar faction, and the Sambhaji Brigade opposing the teaching of Manusmriti in schools.
On Wednesday, Jitendra Awhad protested against the inclusion of Manusmriti in the curriculum by burning a copy of the ancient text in Mahad. Mahad holds historical significance as the site where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar burned Manusmriti in 1927, opposing the caste system.
Awhad on Wednesday challenged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to resign over the issue.
Meanwhile, Amol Mitkari, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, condemned Awhad for tearing a photo of Dr. Ambedkar.
The Ajit Pawar faction also protested by burning an effigy of Awhad in Thane.