Mughals were barbaric: BJP wades into NCERT book revision debate

BJP national spokesperson RP Singh has waded into the controversy surrounding the revision of Class 8 NCERT textbook by claiming that the Mughals unleashed barbarity on Sikhs, Hindus and others for centuries. 

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Welcoming the textbook revision, he posted on X: “It’s time our children learnt the complete, unfiltered history – not a whitewashed version that glorifies invaders. This dark chapter of Mughal atrocities was long hidden. Thank you NCERT for making a beginning to acknowledge the truth. The brutalities inflicted by Babar, Jahangir & Aurangzeb on our revered Sikh Gurus must never be forgotten.”

In another post, he pointed out the atrocities committed by Babar.“Guru Nanak Dev Ji opposed Babar’s invasions and atrocities on innocent Indians. Babar ordered mass killings and enslavement. Guru Nanak Ji condemned Babar’s tyranny in his Babarvani verses in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.”

Singh said Mughal emperor Jahangir ordered the execution of Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Sikh Guru, in 1606 for refusing to embrace Islam and for supporting Khusrau’s (son of Jahangir) rebellion. “Guru Arjan Dev Ji was tortured on a hot iron plate and martyred – the first Sikh martyr in history,” he said.

In another post, Singh said  Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s fanaticism led to the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru, in 1675. “Why? Because Guru ji stood up against forced conversions of Kashmiri Pandits. He was beheaded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. The atrocities didn’t stop there. The young Sahibzades – sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji – aged just and nine, were bricked alive in Sirhind on Aurangzeb’s orders for refusing to convert to Islam. Even this sacrifice was hidden in history books for decades,” he said.