A court in India banned Islamic schools in Uttar Pradesh, a move that could further widen the rift between Muslims residing in India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government before the national elections.
The ruling passed on March 22, overturns a 2004 law regulating madrasas in the country’s most populous state, deeming it in violation of India’s constitutional secularism. The ruling mandates the relocation of students from madrasas to conventional schools.
“The state government shall also ensure that children between the ages of 6 to 14 years are not left without admission in duly recognized institutions,” Allahabad High Court Judges Subhash Vidyarthi and Vivek Chaudhary wrote in their order, issued following an appeal by lawyer Anshuman Singh Rathore.
The BJP says the government is rectifying historical wrongs, including the recent inauguration of a Hindu temple on the site of 16th-century Babri Masjid demolished in 1992. Many Hindus believe the mosque was built where God-king Ram was born and over a temple demolished under the Mughal ruler Babur.
Rakesh Tripathi, a spokesperson for BJP Uttar Pradesh, which runs the state government, said the government was not against Muslims and madrasas, rather it was concerned about the education of Muslim students.
“We are not against any madrasa but we are against discriminatory practices. We are against illegal funding, and the government will decide on further actions after going through the court’s order.”
Decision to impact 10,000 Teachers and 2.7 million Students
The court order to close down madrasas will affect around 2.7 million students and 10,000 teachers in more than 25,000 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, noted the head of the state’s madrasa education board, Iftikhar Ahmed Javed.
There are 16,513 recognized madrasas, out of which 560 are aided by the government, and over 8,400 unrecognized madrasas in UP. Out of 26 lakh students enrolled in Madrasas, 19.5 lakh are in recognized madrasas while seven lahks are in unrecognized madrasas.
India is scheduled to hold a general election between April and June, which Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely anticipated to win. However, Muslims and rights groups have accused certain BJP members and affiliates of propagating anti-Islamic hate speech, engaging in vigilantism, and demolishing properties owned by Muslims.
Modi has repeatedly denied accusations of religious discrimination in India.