The Uttarakhand government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has sealed 84 madrasas across the state in an aggressive crackdown. This action has sparked outrage within the Muslim community, who view it as part of a broader pattern of discrimination and suppression of Islamic education under the BJP-led administration.
The sealed madrasas are primarily located in Muslim-majority areas, with 43 in Dehradun, 31 in Haridwar and Nainital, and 9 in Udham Singh Nagar. While the government claims the institutions were operating illegally, madrasa operators and community leaders argue that the move is aimed at weakening Muslim educational institutions and eroding their religious identity.
Government officials defend the crackdown as an effort to enforce legal regulations, stating that the action is not targeting any specific community. However, critics point out the lack of similar actions against other unregistered schools, raising suspicions of selective enforcement.
Shamoon Kashmir, head of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board, has urged madrasa operators to apply for official recognition. He assured that madrasas with valid documentation would not be disturbed, and those sealed could reopen once they meet the legal requirements. Despite this, many madrasa operators view this as a bureaucratic excuse to close Islamic institutions.
Local madrasa teachers and community leaders are frustrated by the sudden closures, with one Dehradun teacher expressing concerns that the move aims to erase their educational institutions. Many believe that the crackdown is not about legality but an attempt to target Muslims.
As the controversy grows, madrasa operators are preparing to challenge the government’s actions in court. This crackdown threatens to further divide the community and could lead to heightened tensions if the government’s motives are not addressed.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com. Read the full story here.