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A bill was passed in the state assembly to close more than 600 government madrassas in Assam, India, and introduce them as mainstream schools starting next year.
Opposition parties, including Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), walked out of the assembly session on Wednesday night, but the bill passed, The Daily Star reported.
The bill says that more than 600 government madrasas in the state will be converted to middle and high schools starting April 1 of next year. However, there will be no changes in the positions, salaries, allowances and conditions of employment of teachers and staff.
Opposition parties, including Congress, have condemned the decision of the BJP-led state government. State elections are scheduled for March-April of next year.
After Education Minister Himanta Bishwa Sharma rejected a proposal from Congress and AIUDF to discuss the bill, the Rajya Sabha President called for a vote on it. The bill was approved with the support of the Assam People’s Assembly (AGP) led by the BJP and the Borobhumi Popular Front (BPF).
Rejecting the objections of the opposition members, the Minister of Education said: “I think this is a gift for the minority community. Students studying in these madrasas will appreciate this decision after 10 years.
“In a secular country like India, the government cannot support the teachings of any particular religion,” he said.
“It is a mistake to think that the government is doing this against Muslims. Opposing Islamic fundamentalism does not mean opposing Islam. Our government has done a lot for the development of the minority community, ”he said.
Earlier, the education minister said that there were 610 government madrasas in Assam, for which the government spends Rs 260 million Tk every year.
On December 13 this year, Assam’s cabinet approved a proposal to close all madrasahs and schools of Sanskrit.
However, the approved bill does not mention anything about Sanskrit schools.
