'Prevent radicalisation' notice to Muslim institutions sparks debate

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Feb 1: The Task Force on National Security has directed the implementation of its recommendations in Muslim institutes in a bid to help curb and prevent radicalization.

The notice directing the implementation of the recommendations was sent by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and National Security has stirred up a controversy.

The notice was issued to the Urdu, Arabic and Persian study centres by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and National Security.

What the notice states?

In the notice which was issued by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and National Security, it states that the Task Force recommends that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) should develop capabilities to detect and counter radicalization efforts and take counter measures through both government and non-governmental structures.

Both radicalization and deradicalization is multi-disciplinary efforts requiring inputs from Intelligence Agencies, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, minority affairs, the state police forces and all developmental departments, ministry of home affairs will take the lead, but this requires the involvement of entire government, the notice also states.

The notice finally calls on the institutions to send by email an action taken report on the recommendations that have been made by the task force.

Why this notice was issued?

The notice according to the authorities who have issued it is to ensure that there is a proper record of all the students. It also aims at ensuring that none of the students are involved in anti social activities.

Further it is also stated that the notice does not cover just the madrasas, but all the institutions and study centres that are run by the NGO's as well.

Upset with such a notice:

Several Muslims institutions have expressed disgust over this notice. They feel that such a notice ought not to have been issued and it aims at policing the institutions.

Many have even said that this is aimed at targeting the madrasas as there is this notions that madrasas are terror breeding centres. It has been targeted only at Muslim institutions and this is a ploy by the government.

What is worse is that they have used the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and National Security to issue the notice of the task force.

What the agencies feel?

The Intelligence Bureau which has the bulk of the work in such cases feels that there is no harm in keeping a record of the students' details. We want certain issues to be regulated and if people have nothing to hide then such a notice should not hurt them.

Further there have been inputs in the past about some youth being radicalized in madrasas and hence there is a need to keep a check. This is also aimed at preventing the growth of illegal madrasas, the officer with the IB also informed.

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