Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — In Uttarakhand, a state often labelled as the Hindutva Valley, the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is facing intense criticism for what many see as a deliberate and unlawful campaign against Muslims. Under the pretext of administrative action, the government has been targeting Muslim institutions, with educational establishments now at the forefront of this controversial move. The most recent development occurred on Monday (February 3), when the administration declared five Muslim madrasas illegal and sealed them, triggering widespread protests across the state. On the same day, people from the Muslim community gathered at the office of the Dehradun District Magistrate to lodge their protest and submit a memorandum opposing the action.
The crackdown on madrasas in Uttarakhand has raised alarm over the state’s treatment of Muslim communities. The administration, acting on the orders of Chief Minister Dhami, has been inspecting madrasas in a purported effort to ensure they are operating within the law. However, on Monday, the Uttarakhand government sealed five madrasas and issued notices declaring them illegal. In response, Muslim organisations, including Muslim Seva Tanzeem and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, have decried the closures as discriminatory and unjust, filing a formal protest with the district authorities.
“This action has been taken without following due process and without any legal foundation,” said one of the protesting leaders. “The administration is using the law as a tool to target Muslim institutions, and this is not something we will tolerate.”
The Uttarakhand administration has stated that the closures were part of a larger investigation into madrasas in the state, citing claims of non-compliance with registration and documentation requirements. However, the Muslim community strongly rejected these claims, asserting that the closures are politically motivated and aimed at suppressing religious identity.
“It’s not just about madrasas. This is about our right to education and the protection of our religious institutions,” said a leader from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. “We are prepared to take the matter to the Supreme Court, where the law will prevail,” he said.
The controversy surrounding the crackdown on madrasas in Uttarakhand has become a wider debate about religious freedom and minority rights in the country. Several recent incidents have fuelled concerns within the Muslim community about what they perceive as a systematic effort to marginalise them, with the closing of madrasas only the latest in a string of actions seen as discriminatory.
The action against madrasas is part of a broader investigation into educational institutions in Uttarakhand. While officials have stated that the goal is to ensure compliance with state regulations, many fear that this is just the latest attempt by the state government to target institutions with a Muslim identity.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
