CHANDIGARH: The Gita would be taught in Haryana schools from the next academic session from class V to XII.

Education minister Ram Bilas Sharma made the announcement on Monday while terming the Gita "supreme source of culture and human values in society''.

Sharma said the scripture is not only about dialogues between Arjuna and Krishna but is accepted worldwide as a supreme source of knowledge.

"A committee of educationists would decide on the inclusion of specific shlokas of the Gita in various standards. We are working on it to ensure that it is included from the next academic session," Sharma said.

Panjab University sociologist Manjeet Singh said the move was against the constitutional spirit.

"Our society has survived under adverse conditions, especially after Independence, due to its patience and capacity to absolve issue of various class and communities. If the majority would start taking such decisions, it would amount to fascism."

Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said teachings of the Gita are universally but doubted the BJP's intentions. He said the Congress would not allow saffronisation of state's education system.

Indian National Lok Dal general secretary R S Chaudhary said that the government should not make the Gita compulsory.

The move to introduce the Gita comes days after the state government included RSS ideologue Dinanath Batra in the committee that advises it on education.

Batra's litigation had resulted in the withdrawal of historian Wendy Doniger's book on Hindus. He has triggered a number of controversies with his views on education.

His books for reference reading in Gujarat schools call birth of the Kauravas an example of stem cell therapy during the Vedic Age and claim Rig Veda makes first reference to automobiles.