J&K School Book Glorifies Maqbool Bhat, Geelani as Role Models

The Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir is facing backlash over a school book that allegedly glorifies separatist leaders and convicted terrorists as role models. The JK Peoples Forum, a civil society organization, called the book a "betrayal" and demanded its ban and criminal action. BJP leader Sunil Sharma described the incident as "academic jihad," while Education Minister Sakina Itoo denied knowledge of the book. The controversy centers on 'Great Personalities and Legends of J&K (Series 4)', edited by Hilal Ahmed and Santosh Meena, which includes a chapter praising Maqbool Bhat as a "revolutionary" and "Shaheed-e-Azam". The JKPF has raised concerns about the vetting process under the New Education Policy framework.