VHP, BD protest inclusion of chapters on Christianity and Islam for class 9

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru division of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) cadres, protested against the education department for including chapters on Christianity and Islam in the Class 9 "Social Science Part 1" textbook of the state syllabus. The protest was organised in front of the office of the Block Educational Officer at Balmatta. Condemning state government's move to include the chapters, the VHP Divisional Secretary Sharan Pumpwell said, "This is a planned strategy to divide the Hindu society. India is a country with rich culture and heritage. People in the entire world are accepting our culture and heritage. It was after the invasion of the Mughal and British that the history of this country changed and twisted." He also said that apart from adding the history of Christianity and Islam in the text, the students have also been asked to visit churches and mosques. "The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal strongly condemn this move of the education department." VHP leader Shivananda Mendon accused the government of indirectly making efforts of religious conversion. "If the state government is preaching about Christianity and Islam, who will preach about Hinduism and the great Hindu leaders who fought for this nation?", he quizzed. Source: News Karnataka