Jairam Ramesh Seeks Privilege Motion Against Education Minister for Misleading Rajya Sabha on NCERT Textbooks

Jairam Ramesh seeks a privilege motion against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for allegedly misleading the Rajya Sabha about the NCERT textbooks' Preamble.

on Aug 09, 2024

"Jairam Ramesh seeks privilege motion against Education Minister on NCERT textbooks | Frontlist

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has submitted a notice to the Rajya Sabha seeking to initiate privilege proceedings against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for allegedly misleading the House regarding the presence of the Preamble to the Constitution in NCERT textbooks.

In his letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Ramesh contends that Pradhan's statement about the Preamble being included in the Class 6 textbooks is incorrect. Ramesh's complaint arises from a recent debate in which Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns about the omission of the Preamble from textbooks for Classes 3 and 6.

Ramesh argues that Pradhan’s assertion, made on August 7, 2024, was factually incorrect and misleading. He has provided copies of various textbook editions to support his claim, showing that while earlier editions included the Preamble, the latest editions have omitted it.

Ramesh describes the omission as a significant issue, asserting that it undermines efforts to educate students about the Constitution’s principles. He has requested the initiation of privilege proceedings against Pradhan, asserting that misleading statements in the House constitute a breach of privilege.

Pradhan had previously defended the textbooks, stating they contain key constitutional elements like the Preamble, Fundamental Duties, and Fundamental Rights. The Congress party has criticized this stance, alleging that the removal of the Preamble reflects a move towards communal ideology.