New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her views regarding the Jammu University committee's suggestion to eliminate references to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, from the academic curriculum. She argued on Monday that a comprehensive understanding of history necessitates acknowledging both heroes and villains.

Chaturvedi highlighted that if we celebrate heroes, it is imperative to recognize their adversaries. "If there are heroes, then who did they confront? There are villains as well," she stated.

She emphasized that omitting such significant historical figures from educational materials would rob future generations of an essential perspective on history and the origins of current issues. She raised concerns about how students would grasp the complexities surrounding India's partition and its ongoing conflicts with Pakistan if such pivotal narratives are disregarded.

"On the pages of history, if there are heroes, then who did they fight? For that, there are villains too. The greatest villain for our country was Jinnah, who divided our nation. Before Independence, Jinnah demanded division and called for Pakistan and Bangladesh," Chaturvedi told IANS.

"He established East Pakistan and West Pakistan. What will our future generations learn about him? How will they comprehend the reasons behind the country's division? The root cause of all this lies with Jinnah," she added.

Stressing the necessity of historical knowledge, she remarked, "If that is excluded from textbooks, how will future generations understand our conflicts with Pakistan?"

In a cultural analogy, Chaturvedi noted, "If we revere heroes, we must also acknowledge the villains. If we worship Lord Ram, we should also learn about Ravan and his significance in our culture. Understanding both is crucial."

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput commented on the matter, stating, "Not only Jinnah, but also Syed Ahmad Khan should be included in discussions. The Sangh and the BJP should clarify their position on Sir Syed Ahmad. The RSS needs to explain why Jinnah was listed among top freedom fighters."

Rajput further alleged that these topics are raised to distract from more pressing issues. "Members associated with the BJP often bring up trivial matters to avoid discussing significant topics like Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Grant them statehood, and other matters can resolve themselves," he told IANS.

National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi expressed that there is no justification for protests regarding these topics, advocating that students should focus on their university challenges instead. He described these actions as cheap publicity that only exacerbates the situation and noted that the people of Jammu do not support such actions.

Conversely, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav backed the decision, asserting that the initiatives undertaken by the government through the Education Department are appropriate and should be welcomed.

The Department Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu on Sunday recommended the exclusion of topics related to former Pakistan Governor-General Jinnah from the political science curriculum following protests by ABVP, as noted in a press release. Additionally, the committee suggested removing references to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and poet Mohammad Iqbal.