From correspondents in India, 12:00 AM IST

Several Muslim organisations in Kerala Wednesday jointly decided to intensify their agitation for the withdrawal of a controversial Class VII social studies textbook that has been termed 'anti-religious' by various communities.

The co-ordination committee of various Muslim groups announced their decision at a convention here. They said they would march to the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram July 21 as part of their protest.

The committee added it would join hands with other organisations that are also demanding the withdrawal of the textbook.

Inaugurating the meet, Indian Union Muslim Legaue (IUML) supremo Panakkad Muhammadali Shihab Thangal said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, which is led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), was trying to keep people away from religion.

The state has already witnessed a wave of agitations by religious organisations, including Hindu and Christian groups, and political parties against the textbook that was introduced this year. Several religious communities say the book propagates atheism and communist ideology.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)