MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Friday used a gathering of history researchers to underpin his opposition to the concept of Hindu Rashtra. He argued that the Hindu Nation will destroy the social fabric of the country.
In a rare scenario, Pawar held an in-door discussion with 70 history researchers who complained that attempts are being made to twist and rewrite history and impose it, by those in power.
Addressing the researchers, Pawar alleged that attempts were being made to covert India into a Hindu nation and spread hatred in society by distorting history. “Some people are working with an intention of converting India into a Hindu Rashtra by distorting history in school textbooks. This will prove dangerous, as this will harm the secular fabric of the country,” he said.
He said awareness needed to be created among youth that people are trying to corrupt their minds to spread poison in society. “Articles need to be written, discussions should take place, as it is a grave matter. Some people are spreading rumours that Shivaji Maharaj was anti-Muslim. The fact is he placed Muslims in important positions in his Army. Such spreading of hatred is not good for secularism and national integration.”
Pawar appealed to the researchers to come meet regularly and write the truth so that the original history can be shown to the country. “If these unscrupulous elements succeed, what will we teach the next generation? There must be a mechanism or institutions to take measures to correct distorted history,” he said.