Delhi University has banned the book that named Bhagat Singh as terrorist in one of its chapters. (File photo)
A Rajya Sabha lawmaker today sought action against authors who had referred to freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh as a terrorist in a history text book, but some others said they had only sought deletion of such references and not the banning the book.
"I will examine," said Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien in response to the demand by Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agrawal, who got support from treasury benches.
Mr Kurien had earlier instructed government to remove all references as terrorist against Bhagat Singh.
"What action has been taken against the writers...Action should be taken against the writers also," Mr Agrawal said and got support from the BJP members sitting in the treasury benches.
When the House took up Zero Hour, Janata Dal's KC Tyagi raised a 'point of order' saying the government has banned the history text book when it was asked only to remove the mention of terrorist in reference to Bhagat Singh in the book.
"Delhi University has banned the book. I had not asked for withdrawal of the book," he said.
To this, Mr Kurien said he had given a direction for removal of all references of terrorist to Bhagat Singh.
"On that pretext, the book cannot be banned," he said.
He further said in today's parlance, the word terrorist has a different connotation and should be deleted in reference to Bhagat Singh.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Muktar Abbas Naqvi wondered whether the pages referring to Bhagat Singh as terrorist should be torn or the book itself is withdrawn.
"Writers will term Bhagat Singh as terrorist and we support them, this is not possible," the minister added.
Trinamool's Shukendu Sekhar Roy said the word terrorist has also been used in reference to freedom fighter Surya Sen, also known as 'Masterda'. "What is the ruling (on this)," he asked the Chair.
Mr Kurien said the same ruling as in case of Bhagat Singh would be applicable to all freedom fighters who have sacrificed their lives for the country.
Referring to a particular historian, BJP lawmaker Subramanian Swamy alleged that he was paid Rs 1 crore as "honorarium" by the government. But his remarks were immediately expunged by the Chair.