The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry wrote to Delhi University vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on Wednesday urging him to “reconsider” the use of the history book that refers to Bhagat Singh as a “revolutionary terrorist”. Ministry officials maintained that the government’s letter was “advisory” in nature and not a directive as all central universities have complete autonomy in taking academic decisions.

The book in question is ‘India’s Struggle for Independence (1757-1858)’ authored by historians Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukherjee, K N Panikkar and Sucheta Majahan, which was first published in 1988.

The letter came a day after HRD Minister Smriti Irani assured that she would convey her “angst” to the university. The ABVP along with a relative of Bhagat Singh also met Tyagi on Wednesday demanding that the book be banned from the curriculum.