Image for representation only. photo credit: freepik
A picture of a Class 10 model question paper in West Bengal went viral on social media, in which students were asked to mark “Azad Kashmir” on a map, with the opposition BJP claiming it to be a “jihadi conspiracy”. TMC termed it as a mistake which it does not support.
When contacted, Ramanujan Ganguly, chairman of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, accepted that there was a discrepancy in the exam papers published by the autonomous body and action was being taken against those responsible for the mistake.
“We published a compilation of question papers provided by various schools. This mistake was identified in one such question paper. An inquiry is underway, and strict action will be initiated against the members of the editorial team who were found guilty of proofreading. -The reading was assigned.” papers,” Mr. Ganguly pointed out. PTI,
He said that the process of issuing corrigendum on the website of the board is underway. “Those involved in the mistake will not be spared,” he added.
In a question paper issued in an exercise booklet of a Bengali-medium school for Madhyamik candidates, the paper setter has asked them to identify several places on the map – Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (known as ‘Azad Kashmir’ in Pakistan) known as), the place where Gandhiji first launched the Satyagraha movement, and the battleground of Chittagong.
PTI The paper could not independently verify the authenticity of the image circulating on social media.
Demand for state level inquiry
Union Minister of State for Education Subhash Sarkar, during a press meet earlier in the day, demanded a state-level inquiry into the matter.
Mr. Sarkar told PTI That the central government will also look into this issue.
He said, “I urge the state education minister to conduct an inquiry. If the allegations are true, appropriate action should be taken against the publisher and the person who set the paper. The exam paper should be withdrawn immediately and the question should be removed.” ,
Mr. Sarkar further said that the incident, if found to be true, could be attributed to “the appeasement politics of the government run by the Trinamool Congress, which has prompted some people to include questions with anti-national overtones in the test papers”. encouraged.”
The issue turned into a major political controversy, with the BJP quickly accusing the state government of promoting “jihadi ideas” in the state, and the ruling TMC terming the allegations as baseless.
Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “A high-level inquiry should be ordered. This incident proves that the state government promotes jihadi ideas to please its vote bank.”
BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh echoed him, saying that the TMC government not only “supports jihadi elements but also tries to influence the minds of school children”.
TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI His party does not support anything wrong.
He said, ‘If someone has asked such a question, he has done wrong. We do not support such antics.
“TMC is a secular party which does not believe in appeasing any particular community. Mr Sarkar has made baseless remarks against our party,” Mr Ghosh said.