Uttarakhand madrassas refuse to display PM Narendra Modi's photo on 'religious grounds'

Office bearers of madrassas in Uttarakhand held consultations after which they decided they will not comply with the directive "on religious grounds."

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DEHRADUN: Several madrassas in Uttarakhand's Dehradun have reportedly refused to follow a government order to display a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their premises. The decision against the order was made by a regulatory body of madrassas on 'religious grounds'.

The Uttarakhand Madrassa Education Board (UMEB) decided on Friday that the Islamic educational institutions would not comply with the government directive.

An official of the UMEB said, "Since Islam outrightly disapproves putting up any picture inside a madrassa, there is no question of putting up a photo of the Prime Minister inside its premises."

Another madrassa teacher claimed that the direction may give rise to political colours at educational institutions. 

The government directive in question was issued shortly after Independence Day 2017. It asked all educational institutions to "take a pledge to ensure building a new India by 2022 in accordance with the vision of PM Modi, and put up a picture of the Prime Minister in your premises." 

The government directive was also accompanies by an instruction to educational institutions to submit reports on the progress made. Uttarakhand's Minority Welfare Directorate also asked its officials to ensure compliance.

Accordingly, madrassas were informed by district minority welfare officers to "put up a picture of PM Modi in your respective madrassas."

When questioned about the non-availability of photographs of Prime Minister Modi inside madrassas, District minority welfare officer of Dehradun said, "the order has been issued to all the government-run educational institutions."

He added that they, however, cannot force anyone to comply with the order if it is against their religion.