DU textbook calls Bhagat Singh a terrorist, his kin describes it 'unfortunate'

New Delhi: Shaheed Bhagat Singh's nephew Abhey Singh Sandhu on Wednesday described the controversy over the legendary freedom fighter being labelled as `revolutionary terrorist` in a Delhi University textbook as extremely unfortunate.

"This is a very sad precedent that even after 68 years of Independence such words are used for the revolutionaries, who gave their lives for the freedom of the nation. The Britishers, who hanged Bhagat Singh, described him as `true revolutionary` in their judgement, even they didn`t use words like terror or terrorism," Sandhu told news agency ANI.

"Using such words for revolutionaries in an attempt to stir controversy is very unfortunate," he added.

He added that the book written by Bipin Chandra in 1990 was amended later in which Bhagat Singh was termed as a revolutionary and not a terrorist.

"But where that new edition has gone, nobody knows. This thing has been there since past 26 years, it should have been removed. I would urge the government to roll back the concerned book and re-issue it with amendments," he added.

As per media reports, the history textbook prescribed by the Delhi University labels Bhagat Singh as a `revolutionary terrorist`.

The book also calls the Chittagong movement a `terrorist act`, while Sanders killing has been called an `act of terrorism`.

The freedom fighter`s family has reportedly demanded the HRD Ministry to look into the matter and make appropriate changes in the textbook.

(With ANI inputs)