Mahatma Gandhi booklet row: Odisha Govt terms it an inadvertent mistake

Facing widespread criticism over an official booklet describing Mahatama Gandhi's death as an "accident", Odisha government on Saturday said that it was an inadvertent mistake and re was intention to feed wrong information to children or twist sequence of events.

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School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash came out with government response to controversy in state Assembly following a direction from Speaker S N Patro in this regard on Friday. Dash said government has already withdrawn booklet. An official has been disengd and two ors have been asked to give explanation about error, he added.

A two-p government booklet "Aama Bapuji: Eka Jhalaka" (Our Bapuji: A Glimpse) published on occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi presented a brief account of his teachings, works and links with Odisha, while also stating that he "died due to accidental reasons in a sudden sequence of events on January 30, 1948, at Delhi's Birla House".

matter triggered a row with political leaders and activists demanding an apology from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and immediate measures to correct "blunder". issue had created hue and cry in assembly on Friday. Members cutting across party lines had expressed concern over misleading facts on Far of Nation.

"re is intention to give wrong information and mislead children or twist sequence of events. It was (mistake) unintentional," Dash said. Necessary correction will be made in booklet, it will be re-printed and circulated among students within a month, minister told house. Legislators of all parties had on Friday felt sorry over episode.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra had demanded an apology from chief minister. CLP leader also questioned state government's motive behind "misleading" information. "I doubt motive behind this misleading information on Gandhiji is because of changed relationship between (ruling) BJD and BJP. A section of BJP leaders are worshiping Nathuram Godse, who had killed Gandhiji," he had said in assembly on Friday.

"It appears that BJD has totally surrendered before BJP. refore this booklet could be part of BJD-BJP secret alliance," Mishra said. treasury bench members also condemned misleading information on Gandhiji in government booklet. Sharing members' concerns, speaker directed school and mass education minister to make a statement in house on Saturday. 

READ | School Booklet In Odisha Claims Gandhi Died Due To 'accidental Reasons', Kicks Up Row