Congress leader Husain Dalwai on Thursday, 25 June accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of attempting to 'shape students through Hindutva ideology,' citing the recent inclusion of a section on the Emergency in NCERT class 9 social science textbooks — five decades after its imposition. Speaking in Mumbai, Dalwai warned that such an approach risked long-term damage to the country's plural identity.

Dalwai on NCERT and Hindutva in Education

While clarifying that he does not support the imposition of the Emergency, Dalwai argued that singling out religious themes in school curricula was counterproductive. 'There are many issues, all of them should be considered rather than only discussing religious topics. There is now an attempt to shape students through Hindutva ideology. This will lead to the country's destruction,' he said.

He drew a sharp contrast with what he described as India's historically secular global standing. 'Since the time of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, India had a distinct place in the world, and these people have worked to destroy that legacy,' he said, adding that the country's current trajectory reminded him of Bangladesh or Pakistan — a comparison he called 'extremely wrong' for a nation with its own distinct culture and identity.

The NCERT's decision to include Emergency-era content has drawn mixed reactions nationally, with the ruling dispensation defending it as historically necessary and opposition leaders framing it as selective political messaging directed at young students.

Condemnation of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil reportedly used abusive language and issued open threats to journalists on camera, drawing sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Dalwai did not spare him.

'You are not a goon. You are a representative of the people in the Lok Sabha. In your constituency, people voted for you against the BJP because they disagreed with the way the government is functioning today. Those voters were not only from Shiv Sena; a large number were from Congress, NCP, and the Samajwadi Party as well,' Dalwai said, addressing Patil directly.

He also noted that Patil's departure from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction 'was itself wrong,' and that using abusive language against journalists compounded that error. 'What does that mean — are you behaving like local strongmen who try to intimidate people in their area? This is extremely wrong,' he added.

Demand for Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav's Resignation

Responding to questions over Ujjain land deals allegedly linked to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's family, Dalwai demanded a fair investigation and called for Yadav's resignation.

'The lands were bought at low rates, keeping in mind the upcoming infrastructural development, so according to me he should definitely resign,' he said. Drawing a parallel with the Adarsh Housing Society scam of 2010, which forced former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to step down, Dalwai argued that the BJP should hold its own leaders to the same standard. 'If the BJP has any sense of shame, then the Madhya Pradesh CM should be removed,' he remarked.

Broader Context

Dalwai's remarks arrive at a moment of heightened political tension over education policy, press freedom, and alleged land irregularities in BJP-governed states. The opposition's coordinated pushback on multiple fronts — curriculum content, MP conduct, and state-level corruption — signals an intensified pre-session strategy ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament.