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

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.”

... contd.