'Don’t Object To Exercise But…': Islamic Seminary To Uttar Pradesh Govt On Survey Of Private Madrasas

Addressing the media after the conference, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Maulana, Arshad Madani urged all madrasa managements to extend full co-operation to government officials during the survey.

New Delhi: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband issued a statement on Sunday on the move by the Uttar Pradesh to conduct a survey of private madrasas in the state, saying while it doesn’t object to the exercise, the government should be mindful not to denigrate the system behind running such institutions if a few are found to be falling foul of the rules, news agency PTI reported.

At a conference of representatives from various madrasas in the national capital, a 12-member steering committee was formed with a range of objectives, including helping out madrasa managements during the government survey and taking up their issues or grievances, if any, with the government.

The president of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Maulana, Arshad Madani was quoted by the PTI as saying at the conference, “The doors of madrasas are always open for all”. He added that the madrasas are run in line with the Constitution.

Addressing the media after the conference, Madani urged all madrasa managements to extend full co-operation to government officials during the survey as they had nothing to hide. He asked them to keep all documents, including land papers and audit reports ready and provide all information, as sought, accurately. He further directed the madrasa keepers to maintain cleanliness in the premises during the survey.

There was heavy security deployment at the conference and media persons were asked to keep away.

While not speaking against the survey, Madani said the exercise should not be used to vilify the entire madrasa system in the state if “one or two institutions” are found flouting the rules.

The Yogi Adityanath government on August 31 issued an order for a survey of all unrecognised private madrasas in the state and teams were put together to conduct the exercise.

As per the order issued by the state, the teams are to complete the survey by October 15 and submit their reports to the government within 10 days thereafter.

The government order drew concerns from several madrasa operators, with many voicing apprehensions about the survey.

The state is home to about 16,000 private madrassas, including the globally renowned Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband.

Earlier, at a meeting in Delhi September 6, the Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind decided to support the government in the survey but demanded zero interference in their internal affairs.