While the Maharashtra state government has decided to provide grants to madrasas, a large section of the beneficiaries have said that they do not want the fund if it implies giving the government the right to interfere in the administrative decisions of the madrasas. According to the clerics, nearly 80 per cent of the madrasas in the state are not willing to trade their freedom for a few lakhs.
Speaking on the decision, Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi, general secretary, All India Ulama Council, said, “Madrasas have been functioning without the aid or help from the government for many years. Now, if the government has decided to give them grants in exchange for a say in the administration, such grants are not needed.”
Welcoming the decision, Maulana Saeed Athar said that it was a refreshing move by the government. However, pointing to the fact that this could be an attempt by the government to appease the madrasas that have been functioning independently till now by obliging them on the pretext of providing modern education, Maulana Athar said, “Most madrasas are already imparting both religious and worldly knowledge. Computer literacy, knowledge of oral and written English are already being taught, so what is the value addition that the government plans to do by offering grants?”
Maulana Azaz Kashmiri, Imam of the Handiwadi mosque added, “If the government has decided to provide grants solely because it has neglected the Muslims for so long and now wants to compensate the community without wanting any say in the administrative aspect of the madrasas, then the grants are welcome.”
When asked if the state was resorting to vote bank politics, all the clerics agreed, but said that it was the case all over the country. “All political parties are resorting to vote bank politics and if madrasas are being viewed as an alternative mode of education for immigrants, such assumptions have to be taken with a pinch of salt,” said Maulana Saeed Noori of Raza Academy.