Shia Central Waqf Board chairman, Waseem Rizvi. (ANI) Shia Central Waqf Board chairman, Waseem Rizvi. (ANI)

ALLEGING THAT madrasas have become a business venture for mullahs (clerics) and generated terrorists instead of ensuring jobs for Muslims, Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board Chairman Waseem Rizvi on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, seeking abolition of the concept of madrasas. Instead, he demanded that madrasas be registered as mainstream schools under state CBSE, ICSE and state boards.

Citing example of West Bengal, Rizvi told mediapersons, “The example of West Bengal is before us… where it has been found that some madrasas were imparting training to make bombs. Madrasas have been turned into business by mullahs, who send their own children to convent schools. While they fail to ensure good jobs for these children, a large number of them have become terrorists.”

In his letter to the PM and Adityanath, he wrote: “In India, certain organisations and ‘Kattarpanthi Mullahs’ are taking Muslim children away from the mainstream in the name of madrasa education. The level of education of Muslim children in madrasas is so low that instead of general society, they are moving towards radicalism.”

Claiming that a large number of madrasas are not registered, lack basic facilities and have mostly untrained teachers, Rizvi wrote that such an education cannot be utilised to crack competitive examinations. He added that a large number of madrasas are funded through charity coming from different parts of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. “Kuch aatankwadi sangathan bhi aise apanjikrit madarson ko paise se madad kar rahe hain (Some terror outfits are also helping such non-registered madrasas with funds),” he added.

Citing examples of madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, Rizvi said that most do not have a playground, washroom, canteen and a computer room. Alleging that the current madarsa education is making Muslim children backward, “who are becoming victims of terror groups”, Rizvi wrote, “Gareeb aur pichhde bacche aatankiyon ke liye aasaan shikar ki tarah hote hain (Poor and backward children are like easy targets for terrorists).”

Rizvi, thereby, sought that madrasas be called “schools”, where religious education would be made optional and non-Muslim students allowed admission.

The BJP, meanwhile, said that governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh had no plans to shut down the madrasas and were, instead, working towards the modernisation of education imparted in these institutes.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said: “Our governments have no plan to shut down the madrasas. We are in favour of their modernisation as well as modernisation of the education imparted there. We want that alongside religious teachings, modern education should also be imparted to madrasa students.”

Rizvi, meanwhile, on Tuesday wrote to all district magistrates, SPs and managers or administrators of Shia Waqf properties, asking that all unregistered madrasas be removed from Shia Waqf lands in UP by January 31. He also warned that FIRs would be lodged against such institutions if they continue their activities.

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