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Minister's slur on Darwin's theory upsets Modi govt

Last Updated 23 January 2018, 17:59 IST

The Narendra Modi government is upset with Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Satya Pal Singh's remarks that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was "scientifically wrong."

It has also rejected the Minister's suggestion to sponsor an international conference to deliberate on the issue and decide as to "what is true and factual" about Darwin's theory of evolution.

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar  advised Singh to refrain from making comments on issues "which do not come within his domain."

A section of scientists had objected to the Minister's remarks and wanted him to retract.

"Darwin's theory is scientifically wrong. It needs to be changed in school and college curriculum. Nobody, including our ancestors, in writing or orally, have said they saw an ape turning into a man. No books we have read or the tales told to us by our grandparents had such a mention; our ancestors have nowhere mentioned that they saw an ape turning into a man," Singh, who is in-charge of higher education department in the HRD Ministry, had recently said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event held in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra last Friday.

"When a Minister  of human resource development makes such claims, it harms the scientific community's efforts to propagate scientific thoughts and rationality through critical education and modern scientific research," a section of the scientist community said, demanding the Minister take back his words.

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(Published 23 January 2018, 17:32 IST)

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