The political controversy over the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) new modules on the Partition of India, which partly blame the Congress party, has escalated with Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera demanding that the document be "burnt."

In a press conference, Khera said, "Burn this document as it doesn’t tell the truth. Partition happened due to nexus between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League."

The NCERT modules, released to mark Partition Horror  Remembrance Day, are intended for middle and secondary school students and present new perspectives on the causes of the Partition.

Describing the "culprits of Partition," the text states that three players contributed to the event: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who demanded it; the Congress, which accepted it; and Lord Mountbatten, who implemented it.

Congress blasts historical interpretation

The secondary-stage module also notes that Indian leaders at the time had no experience in running a national administration, suggesting that this inexperience contributed to the "haste" with which the Partition was carried out.

Khera, however, rejected this interpretation and placed the blame squarely on other political groups. "RSS is danger to this nation. Idea of partition was first propagated by Hindu Mahasabha in 1938. It was repeated by Jinnah in 1940," he said.

The NCERT modules also highlight the long-term impacts of the Partition, including turning Kashmir into a major security issue that is exploited by foreign powers. They conclude by framing the Partition as a warning about the consequences of political shortsightedness and giving concessions to violence.