The Bhagavad Gita will be taught in government schools of Madhya Pradesh from this academic session despite protests from members of other religious communities.

"The study material on teachings from the Gita is ready and would be dispatched to every state-run school soon," principal secretary of the school education department, Rajnish Vaish said today.

The lessons on Gita, the holy text of the Hindus, will not be a part of the curriculum but would supplement regular subjects in the same way as moral science, physical education and some other disciplines, officials said.

Some part of the Gita teachings may get into the Hindi literature syllabus, they said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had mooted the idea of including teachings from the Hindu holy book for school students.

The decision to introduce teachings from the Gita for students from Class I to Class X has been taken despite protests from leaders of other religious communities in the state.

Reacting on the issue, Father Anand Mutungal, general secretary of Harmony Foundation, a non-governmental organisation working for the Christian community, said a memorandum had been submitted to the Governor after Chouhan made the announcement about introducing Gita lessons last year.

"We are not against the introduction of teachings of Bhagvad Gita but texts of other religions should also be given space," he said.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Ajay Singh alleged that the main agenda behind the move was to saffronise education system in the state.

Schools are not meant for doing 'havans' or 'Gitapaath', he said adding that the Congress will oppose the move.