Mumbai: Union Minister Muktar Abbas Naqvi on Friday sought to allay apprehensions of Muslim community over the decision of the BJP-led Government in Maharashtra to de-recognise Madrasas which impart only religious education, saying Madrasas "are a reality of India" and "there should be no politics on the issue".
Naqvi, the Union Minister of State for Minorities Affair said the government would consider including these Islamic-learning centres in the mainstream educational system under the Right to Education Act.
"I have assured the Madrasas that the government favours education for all and I want to assure them that funds won't be a constraint," Naqvi, who was on a visit to the city, told PTI.
He said the government would also consider including these Islamic-learning centres in the mainstream educational system under the Right to Education Act.
"We feel that there should be no politics on the issue of Madrasas. We don't see this as vote-bank politics. This issue is related to the empowerment of the Muslim community," he added.
Naqvi slammed the previous Congress led-government for bringing in the Right to Education (RTE) Act which, he said, does not consider Madrasas as educational institutions.
Stressing that the BJP-led government was "committed to inclusive growth", Naqvi said, "We have to take a lenient approach. The priority should be education for all."
Maharashtra Government's move to treat as "non-schools" those Madrasas which do not teach primary subjects such as English, Maths and Science has sparked widespread protests.
Hitting out at the Government on the issue, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan said this unnecessary controversy has been created to deflect attention from the allegations of corruption faced by the ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis government.
Addressing a press meet, Chavan said the government's decision contradicted the Union HRD ministry's directive that national school curriculum can not be imposed on Madarsas and Vedic education schools.
If the intention of the government was welfare of the Madarsas and impart quality education, the decision could have been taken in consultation with all stakeholders, he added.
