Social activist Swami Agnivesh today strongly objected to the use of the term 'saffronisation' to describe the changes made in the National Council of Educational Research and Training school textbooks under the National Democratic Alliance government, saying it hurt the sentiments of sanyasis like him for whom the colour has special significance.

"We at the Arya Samaj appeal to all not to use the terms `saffronisation' or `desaffronisation' when referring to the
changes in the NCERT textbooks, as the colour is symbolic of sanyas (ascetisicm) and is also an integral part of our Indian identity, being one of the colours of our national flag," Agnivesh told reporters in New Delhi.

He said he has met Congress president Sonia Gandhi regarding the issue, and claimed that she agreed the terminology needed to be changed.

"We welcome the decision taken by the United Progressive Alliance government to re-examine the changes made by the previous government in the NCERT textbooks, but we would like to avoid calling it desaffronisation," Agnivesh said. He also appealed to the government to consult the Arya Samaj in the process, as it was in the forefront of the independence movement and has always been against communalism.