UP madrasas defy Yogi govt’s diktat to prove ‘patriotism’ on Independence Day

Many madrasas across Uttar Pradesh defied Yogi Adityanath government's order to celebrate Independence Day by singing the national anthem.

Lucknow, August 16: Like everyone else, madrasas (Islamic educational institutions) in Uttar Pradesh also celebrated the 70th Independence Day with traditional fervor and gaiety on Tuesday.

However, this time a controversial diktat issued by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, making it mandatory for all madrasas to celebrate the biggest national day by hoisting the Tricolour and singing the national anthem, has left students and teachers of madrasas upset.

They are also angry that the government in its order asked them to "videograph" the celebrations as a "proof" of their patriotism.

Authorities of a madrasa in UP's Bulandshahr told NDTV that they have always been celebrating the Independence Day and the Republic Day by hoisting the national flag and singing Jana Gana Mana.

"We wonder why only madrasas have been singled out to prove their patriotism. There are also other educational institutions run by other minority groups in the state. Why no such orders for them?" a teacher of the Bulandshahr madrasa told NDTV.

However, a report by Hindustan Times stated that many UP madrasas defied the Yogi Adityanath government's order as they didn't sing the national anthem and record the Independence Day celebrations. Most of these madrasas openly opposed the government's order to prove their patriotism.

"In Kanpur, Meerut and Bareilly, three of UP's biggest madrasa centres, many Islamic schools sang only Saare Jahan Se Accha and hoisted the Tricolour," added Hindustan Times report.

The authorities of madrasas said that they did not record the celebrations as they did not want to give proof of their patriotism.

"Students hoisted the flag and celebrated the occasion with traditional fervour. The government order is an attempt to test our patriotism which is wrong," Haji Mohd Saleeh, convener of the Sunni Ulema Council, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

According to figures, UP has around 16,000 madrasas. Out of the 16,000 madrasas, only 600 of them are getting aid from the government.

OneIndia News