CM Sarma committed to shut all Madrassas, 600 closed already

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday claimed that he has closed 600 madrassas and plans to close all madrassas as he wants schools, colleges and universities instead.

Addressing a rally in Karnataka, he vowed to continue his campaign against madrassas in the state.
Sarma said, “I have closed 600 madrassas and I intend to close all madrassas because we don’t want madrassas.” We want schools, colleges and universities.

He further said that people from Bangladesh come to Assam and pose a threat to our civilization and culture.
All government madrassas were to be converted into “regular schools” providing “general education”, according to a controversial bill that Sarma specifically sponsored in Assam in 2020. As of January 2023, there are 3,000 registered and unregistered madrasas in the state. .

Sarma further attacked the Congress for allegedly using a “pro-Mughal” narrative to distort India’s past.
Earlier, Sarma said a checklist for madrassas has been drawn up, though the state is yet to “reach an agreement with stakeholders, but things are moving in the right direction”.

The CM said the Assam Police was working with Muslims in the state to “rationalise” madrassa education.