Mumbai: The publisher of ICSE textbook has tendered unconditional apology and promised to remove the images purportedly showing Azaan - the Islamic Call to Prayers, as one of the many causes of noise pollution in the 6th standard textbook.
"The diagram on page 202 of our publication Integrated Science for Class-6 has a structure resembling portion od a fort and other noise producing objects in a noisy city. We do apologies if it has hurt the sentiments of anyone", a letter signed by Hemant Gupta of Selina Publishers, said.
"This is to inform all concerned that we will be changing the picture in our subsequent editions the book", he added.
There was outrage all over after it was reported that the ICSE text book has equated Azaan with noise pollution. An online petition was also started by some activists demanding the removal of the images. The petition addressed to Union HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar said such images will create unnecessary hatred among young minds of tender.
The picture on page 202, lesson 13, shows a fast moving trains, cars, airplane and also of a man in frustration shutting his ears right in front of a mosque while explaining the causes of noise pollution.
In April this year, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam had caused a huge controversy through a series of tweets blaming Azaan, the call to the faithful to come to prayer causing noise pollution.
A debate is also on in Israel and a law is pending parliament's nod to lower the speaker volume of Azaan from mosques.
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