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This is an archive article published on October 9, 2009
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Opinion The Madrasa Board controversy

There has been much apprehension about the proposed Central Madrasa Board (meant to introduce a touch of modernism in these institutions for religious education).

Seema Chishti

October 9, 2009 02:11 AM IST First published on: Oct 9, 2009 at 02:11 AM IST

There has been much apprehension about the proposed Central Madrasa Board (meant to introduce a touch of modernism in these institutions for religious education). Rashtriya Sahara,in its lead story on October 4 headlined,‘Markazi Madrasa Board: qaum jo chaahegi wahi hoga’ (whatever the community wants will be done) has reported the statement of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal,after his meeting with some Muslim MPs,where he had declared that action will be taken according to the wishes of the Muslim community. The minister is reported to have stated that the views of MPs for and against the formation of the Board were almost evenly divided: even those who supported pleaded for some changes in the proposed draft of the proposal.

Stating that the draft for the proposed enactment for a Madrasa Board that has been prepared without seeking the ulema’s opinion is “against the Muslim temperament” and “unacceptable”,Hyderabad-based daily Siasat (October 6) writes: “The government is concerned only about improvement of religious madrasas whereas it could have opened other alternative schools equipping them with modern wherewithal and imparting better and better education to Muslim students. But instead,it is using tactics like these to keep the madrasas under control.”

Places of worship on public land

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Urdu papers have generally welcomed the Supreme Court’s order that no place of worship should be constructed illegally at a public place. Kolkata and Delhi-based daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq,in its editorial (Oct 1) has welcomed it: Holding some sections of the majority community largely responsible for such constructions and enumerating many problems faced by the minority,the paper adds: “The government and the courts should also pay attention to these matters as well and get justice to the oppressed and the deprived. The ends of justice can’t be met only by enacting new laws.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly Daawat,in an editorial (October 4) writes: “There is another aspect of this issue… There already is a law in the country with the objective of protection of historical religious places. Places of worship that existed before 1947 have been given the status of historical buildings. This law was reiterated when the controversy about Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi was raised. Therefore,its respect is mandatory,because it is a national law… otherwise the said order will,instead of creating communal harmony,worsen the situation. The court should also see that state governments do not implement this order in a wrong manner.”

The Maoist challenge

In its front page commentary on October 1,Daawat writes: “In spite of all efforts it has not been possible to control Naxalite violence and that is a matter of concern for us… Neither terrorism nor separatism are as big dangers as Naxalism,yet only the former is shown in an exaggerated manner (‘unhin ka hawwa khara kiya jata hae’). If the statistics of loss of life and property are considered,what are described as terrorism and separatism are far behind Naxalite violence…” The paper adds: “Naxalite terrorism is ignored only because persons from the majority community are alleged in it and much noise is made and great energy is spent on fake terrorism (masnui dehshatgardi) in which members of the minority community are said to be involved.”

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Referring to the “unprecedented” newspaper advertisements depicting the faces of Naxalite violence Rashtriya Sahara,in its editorial (Sept. 27),writes: “It is not very easy to defame the Naxalite movement (badnaam kar paana itna aasaan nahin hae) because they work on the lines of Robin Hood… Now the problem cannot be solved only by the solutions provided by the government. Participation of the entire country is necessary in this process.”