The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal lashed out at the Assam BJP saying that demolishing madrasas in the state is not acceptable. He said that the government should stop its bulldozer drive against madrasas and warned that they will approach the Supreme Court against the drive.
“We can’t accept the Assam government’s bulldozer drive against the Madrasas in the state. It should be stopped. If necessary we will move to the Supreme Court or any other against it,” Ajmal told news agency ANI.
The Assam government on Wednesday demolished a madrasa in Kabaitary village in Bongaigaon district, as part of its ongoing campaign against Madrasas in the state.
The government claimed that the Markazul Maarif Quariyana Madrassa was linked to Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Bangladesh-based Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).
This was the third Madrasa demolished this month by the Assam government alleging similar charges.
Accusing the BJP-ruled state of using fear tactics ahead of the 2024 general elections, the AIUDF chief cautioned about further targeting of the community in the state.
“Attacks on Muslims, Madrasas, Mosques have been increasing ahead of 2024 general election. They think that their votes will be increased if their target of Muslims will increase. It’s their job to scare Muslims ahead of the 2024 election. BJP has needed Muslim votes to retain power in 2024. So, their attacks on Muslims are increasing, so that, the feared Muslims vote for them,” Ajmal said.
He said that these madrasas were built after collecting donations for 20-30 years. “And they bulldoze them in a day.”
Ajmal said that only culprits should be arrested as per the law.
“State has lakhs of schools, if an individual is found to be a criminal then they are the ones who are arrested. It should be the same for Madrasas, only culprits should be arrested.”
Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is well-known for his anti-madrasa stance, said that some madrasa managements were not running institutions but were running a terrorist hub.
In the past, he has said that madrasas should cease to exist and said that as long as madrasas exist, children will not be able to think about becoming doctors and engineers.
