The state government’s decision to give aid to madrasas has kicked up a political storm since it was announced on Wednesday.
The Opposition is up in arms against the Congress-NCP government saying it is playing vote bank politics. The BJP pointed out that the government had adopted a policy not to grant aid to new Marathi medium schools in the state.
Maharashtra BJP president Devendra Fadnavis said, “The state government has systematically cut down the grant given to Marathi medium schools over the years. It is a declared government policy that no new Marathi medium school will be given the government grant. But, today the government announced `10 crore for madrasas. It is obvious that the decision has been taken with an eye on the Muslim vote bank.”
The BJP leader further argued that the decision to give grant to madrasas is also unconstitutional. “We have a secular government. It is unconstitutional for the government to give a grant to institutes that indulge in religious teachings. It is also unconstitutional to promote a particular religion or religious teachings using government money. Our question is: Is the government going to pass a law that no religious education will be given in madrasas? If such law is not made, the BJP will oppose the grant given to madrasas,” he said.
BJP’s alliance partner Shiv Sena was also equally severe in criticism of the government. “Even the Pakistan government does not give subsidy to madrasas, then why here?” asked Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut. His party chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “Now, please tell us who the fundamentalists are.”
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray termed the decision as “politically motivated” and said it won’t help the government in the polls. “This decision is taken with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly and general elections...This is an old trick of the Congress (to announce doles ahead of elections). However, the Muslim community is well aware of their motive to derive political mileage...Congress has lost its credibility,” he said.
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi called the decision a mere “election stunt”. He said that there are over 5,000 madrasas in the state. “Why has government announced aid for only 200 of them? It seems that the government does not even have proper information about number of madrasas. If they wanted to take the decision for the welfare of Muslim community, the decision would have been taken when they came to power and not when it is time to face election,” Mr Azmi said.