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Why are ‘illegal’ madrassas being identified in Uttarakhand?

Why are ‘illegal’ madrassas being identified in Uttarakhand?

#News Bureau January 16,2025

The issue of madrasas is now being raised in Uttarakhand, which recently faced boycotts by Muslim traders and shopkeepers and warning boards for non-Hindus. The BJP-led Pushkar Singh Dhami government has ordered the identification of madrasas and more than 200 madrasas running without registration in the state have been identified. Not only this, further investigation is also being done. From where do they get funds, what is the complete information of the students coming from other states. So the question is why such a thorough investigation of madrasas is being done?

Before knowing why the Dhami government has given this order and what the people associated with the Madrasa Board have to say, let us know why Uttarakhand has been in the news in recent months for news related to Muslims. Last year itself, Uttarakhand was in the headlines for the hatred being spread against Muslims.

About four months ago, in September, boards warning ‘non-Hindus’ were put up in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. ‘Rohingya Muslims’ and ‘hawkers’ were warned. They were prohibited from entering or roaming in the villages. It was said that those who violate the ban would be punished. Although, these boards had ‘by the permission of all the villagers’ written on them, many villagers did not agree with this.

Rudraprayag is a major stopover during the Kedarnath Yatra. This area has been known for its peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. In the villages there, communities have been seen working together peacefully, their livelihood is linked to the pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand. But last year the situation changed suddenly. Such an atmosphere was created when a few weeks before that, after an incident of sexual abuse in Chamoli, the local people protested to take action against the people of a particular community.

Before that, in the month of July too, an alleged hate order was issued in the state. In Uttarakhand too, hotels, dhabas, street vendors selling food items on the Kanwar Yatra route were ordered to display the names of their owners.

The order was termed as targeting Muslims and it was alleged that the BJP government wanted to ‘economically boycott’ Muslim shopkeepers. BJP’s allies JDU and RLD also objected to it. When the matter went to court, the UP and Uttarakhand governments were warned against the orders targeting Muslims.

In March last year, Muslim traders in Dharchula were asked to close their shops and leave the town. After two minor girls were lured and kidnapped in Dharchula, the local traders’ association had asked Muslim shopkeepers to close their shops and leave the town. However, in this incident that took place in February, the girls were rescued and the accused were arrested. But the trade union has now escalated the issue. The Dharchula Vyapar Sangh had cancelled the membership of 91 traders, mostly Muslims. The trade union barred them from opening their shops. The trade union had also asked the landlords to evict such “outsiders” from Dharchula. However, the district Pithoragarh administration claimed that no landlord or shop owner supported the traders’ organization’s call.

What is the matter of madrasa?

Anyway, now the matter of madrasa has come to the fore. In the investigation started after the instructions of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to deal with illegal madrasa operations, information has been collected about the registration status of madrasas, source of funding and students coming from other states.

As many as 129 unregistered madrassas have been identified in Udham Singh Nagar alone, followed by Dehradun with 57 and Nainital with 26, TOI reported. A district-level committee headed by the district magistrate, comprising senior police officials like the SSP and SP, has been formed to monitor the probe. A report on the findings is likely to be submitted to the state authorities within a month.

The highest number of unregistered madrassas are reported to be in Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital, but probes are underway in other districts as well. Dhami had earlier said, “We will not allow any kind of illegal activity in the state. Strict action will be taken against illegal madrassas and those running them. District and police teams will conduct a thorough probe.” Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, head of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board, said, “We have been urging unregistered madrassas to get themselves registered for a long time. Quality education for students in these institutions depends on this compliance,” TOI reported. He said that the government is working in a transparent manner and has urged the madrasa operators to follow the rules.

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