Statement of Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource Development on representation of the prophet in a text-book in Uttar Pradesh

“The Ministry taking cognisance of some reports, on 23.06.2011, requested the Chairman, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), as also Secretary Basic Education, Govt. of UP and Principal Secretary, Deptt. Of Home, Govt. of UP, to take urgent measures to ensure that all necessary corrective measures are taken immediately to remove the offending publication. In response, Additional Secretary and Officiating Chief Executive and Secretary, CISCE vide his letter dated 27th June, 2011, while submitting that the Council does not prescribe or recommend text books except in English and Regional Languages for Class IX-XII, has informed that the publisher of the book (Active Publishers, Garh Road, Meerut, UP) has tendered a public apology and the same has been published in the local newspapers in Lucknow. The Publisher has also conveyed to CISCE that he has met the concerned complainants and personally apologized to them. CISCE has further informed this Ministry, that the publisher has withdrawn the book from the market and also that books in hand will be withdrawn once the school reopens after summer vacation.”