DISPUR: During a rally in Belagavi, Karnataka, on Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared his intention to close all madrasas in India. Sarma explained that his decision was motivated by the need for schools and colleges in the country, which could train students to become doctors and engineers. He argued that madrasas were not necessary in a modern, new India.
Sarma’s comments came in response to a TV anchor’s question about his recent decision to close 600 madrasas in Assam. The chief minister explained that he wanted to close all madrasas, not just those in his state, because they posed a threat to India’s civilization and culture. Sarma pointed out that people from Bangladesh were entering India every day, and that the country needed to protect its identity.
Karnataka | People from Bangladesh come to Assam & create a threat to our civilization & culture. I have closed 600 madrassas & I intend to close all madrassas because we do not want madrassas. We want schools, colleges & universities: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, in Belagavi pic.twitter.com/aIqASZD2a0
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2023
In addition to his remarks about madrasas, Sarma also criticized the Congress party, accusing it of working to weaken the new India. He compared the Congress to the Mughals, who he claimed had weakened India in the past. Sarma praised the current prime minister, Narendra Modi, for leading the country in a new direction, where the economy was stronger than Britain’s and India was able to produce its own vaccines.
Sarma’s comments have sparked controversy, with many people criticizing his proposal to close all madrasas in the country. Some have accused him of being anti-Muslim, while others have argued that madrasas play an important role in educating children from poor backgrounds. However, Sarma’s supporters have praised him for his commitment to modernizing India’s education system and ensuring that students receive a quality education.
The debate over madrasas in India is not new. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for the government to regulate and modernize these institutions, which are often criticized for promoting a conservative and outdated curriculum. While some argue that madrasas provide a valuable service to the Muslim community, others believe that they are hindering the progress of the country as a whole.
Sarma’s comments are likely to reignite this debate and force policymakers to consider the role of madrasas in modern India. Whether his proposal to close all madrasas will gain traction remains to be seen, but it is clear that the issue of religious education in the country is a complex and contentious one.