A Class 8 reference book, which is used by private English-medium schools affiliated to the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE), shockingly described freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak as the “Father of Terrorism”.

The book is printed by a Matura-based publisher.

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Reacting to the development, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a habitual offender when it comes to insulting freedom fighters and demanded that the book is withdrawn immediately.

“BJP is a habitual offender when it comes to rewriting history & insulting our Freedom Fighters. Bal Gangadhar Tilak ji was one of the tallest Congress leaders in the National Movement. CM Raje should apologise & withdraw these books immediately,” tweeted Surjewala.

BJP is a habitual offender when it comes to rewriting history & insulting our Freedom Fighters.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak ji was one of the tallest Congress leaders in the National Movement.

CM Raje should apologise & withdraw these books immediately.https://t.co/7rWw2uXZPx

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 12, 2018

The Rajasthan State Textbook Board publishes books in Hindi, leaving students no other option but to use reference books.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak demonstrated a path towards national movement, therefore, he is called as the father of terrorism, reads page 267 of chapter 22 of the book.

The description is part of sub-topic “Incidents of National Movement during 18th and 19th century”.

“Tilak clearly believed that we cannot achieve anything just by pleading the British officers. Through Shivaji and Ganpati festivals, Tilak aroused unique awareness in the country. He instilled the mantra of freedom among the masses, due to which he became a thorn in the eyes of the British,” the book reads.

Officials at the Student Advisor Publication Private Limited, which publishes the book, said the mistake had been rectified in the revised edition.

“The translators made the mistake. It had come to our notice and was corrected in the revised edition last month. The first edition was published last year,” Rajpal Singh, a production official at the publisher’s office, told PTI.

(With agency inputs)