Uttar Pradesh publisher apologises for Prophet cartoon

Protests over objectionable depiction of Prophet Mohammed in Class IV moral science textbooks of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) has forced its publisher to withdraw the books from the market. The publisher also tendered a public apology for depicting Prophet Mohammed.

The HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the withdrawal came after it had written to the ISCE board, Uttar Pradesh secretary of Basic Education and the principal secretary, department of home in UP to ensure that all necessary corrective measures were taken immediately to remove the offending publication which is in wide circulation in UP schools.

While the ISCE told HRD ministry that it does not prescribe or recommend textbooks except in English and regional languages for Class IX-XII, it informed that the publisher of the book - Active Publishers, Garh Road, Meerut, UP - has tendered a public apology which has been published in the local newspapers in Lucknow. The publisher has also conveyed to the ISCE board that he has met the concerned complainants and personally apologised to them.

ISCE board said that the publisher has withdrawn the book from the market and the books in hand will be withdrawn once the schools reopen after summer vacation.

HRD intervention came after muslim leaders reportedly complained to prime minister Manmohan Singh over the depiction of Prophet Mohammed. The leaders argued that depiction of Prophet Mohammed was against fundamental tenets of Islam which is against any form of idol worship.