Savarkar row: BJP says IUML misusing power

On the day following a school teacher's suspension for a quiz question on right-wing ideologue VD Savarkar, the BJP accused the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of abusing its power to penalize educators who impart historical truths. Guru Prasad, a government upper primary school teacher from Kasaragod district in Kerala, was subjected to departmental action over a 'freedom quiz' question he crafted, which queried which freedom fighter faced the most British punishment.

The answer key designated Veer Savarkar as the correct response. The investigation into the teacher concluded that formulating a question that might create a deceptive impression was a grave offense. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar denounced the disciplinary measures against a teacher for preparing a quiz featuring 'historical facts about Veer Savarkar' as profoundly objectionable, asserting that it suggested a conspiracy to distort and rewrite the nation's history.

He contended that the IUML was exploiting its authority to penalize teachers who impart historical facts, alleging a government led by VD Satheesan was being controlled by the IUML. The BJP leader contended that the government was targeting a teacher in an attempt to appease extremist groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI and practice appeasement politics.

The BJP also organized protests against the UDF government in Kasaragod. Meanwhile, state education minister N Shamsudheen maintained that the teacher's dismissal was based on a director general of education report implicating his guilt. He affirmed that the inquiry would persist, and if there were others who had played a part in the incident and attempted to inject their ideology and incite issues into the education system, they would also undergo departmental inquiries.