The West Bengal state government in India has ordered the closure of 252 madrasas after reviewing their operations and legal authorization. At the same time, show-cause notices have been issued to another 100 madrasas, according to reports.
In the first phase of the inspection, most of the 252 madrasas ordered to close were reportedly found to be associated with the Khariji ideology.
Among them, 44 are located in Malda district, 37 in North Dinajpur, 32 in South 24 Parganas, and 25 each in Nadia and Murshidabad districts.
West Bengal Minority Affairs Minister Khudiram Tudu said the madrasas that received show-cause notices must provide valid authorization and the necessary documents. If they fail to do so, action will also be taken to close those institutions.
The inspection followed a state-wide survey aimed at identifying recognized and unauthorized madrasas operating across West Bengal.
In June, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari ordered an assessment of the status of madrasas across the state. Subsequently, the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department conducted a survey in 22 districts, including Kolkata.
The survey examined the management of the madrasas, student admissions and registration, sources of funding, and whether the institutions had valid authorization.
According to Minister Khudiram Tudu, West Bengal currently has 2,132 madrasas operating with legal authorization, while 2,396 madrasas are operating without authorization.
The government’s action against the madrasas has also triggered differing reactions among political parties in West Bengal.
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya supported the government’s action and pointed to the possibility of increasing extremist activities in border areas. He said the government has a responsibility to prevent anti-state activities carried out under the guise of madrasa education.
Senior BJP leader and state minister Agnimitra Pal also supported the action against the madrasas. She alleged that some unauthorized madrasas had provided anti-government instruction and that Bangladesh-based terrorist members had taken shelter in some of these institutions.
However, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the government’s action. TMC legislator Kunal Ghosh said madrasas are also part of the education system and that such institutions should not be portrayed as being associated with terrorism.
Ref: India Media
