Show-cause notices have also been sent to a hundred other madrasas in the first phase of the review process. The West Bengal government has issued closure notices to 252 madrasas as it verifies Islamic educational institutions in the state.
The show-caused madrasas must produce valid authorisation, or they will be shut down, warned Minority Affairs Minister Khudiram Tudu. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had ordered a statewide survey in June to determine the number of recognised and unrecognised madrasas in the state. “Based on the findings, orders were issued to shut down 252 madrasas in the first phase. Additionally, show-cause notices have been served to another 100 madrasas where more serious irregularities were detected.
If these institutions fail to produce proof or valid authorisation, action will be taken to shut them down,” said Tudu.
“It is the government’s responsibility to stop anti-national activities in the backdrop of madrasa education. So, the government has done this,” he claimed. “Bangladesh-based terrorists used to take shelter in such non-affiliated madrasas. We want to streamline the education system,” she claimed.
BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya defended the government’s move, pointing to a rise in “radicalisation” activities in the border areas. Bengal minister and senior BJP leader Agnimitra Paul, too, called the action against madrasas justified, claiming that such institutions “promoted anti-national education”. Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh said madrasas are merely an education system, and taking “terrorist jibes” against madrasas wasn’t right.
