All state-run madrassas & madrassa board to be shut down in November: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam finance, health, and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the state-run madrassas, as well as the madrassa board, will be shut down in the month of November. This move will be effected after a notification is issued in this regard, said Sarma.

"In November, both the madrassa schools and the board shall be closed down. However, we are as of yet unable to decide how to accommodate the students who have already taken admissions. The process of notifying the same is underway, and everything will be finalized by November," Sarma said in front of reporters here.

Responding to All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader Badruddin Ajmal's objection to the move, Sarma said, "Let him (Ajmal) protest. We wish to fight with him, we will quarrel with him. The more he suffers, the happier I will be."

Ajmal had earlier said that if the BJP-led state government closes down government-run madrassas, his party would re-open them after coming to power in the Assembly elections scheduled early next year.

Taking further potshots at Ajmal, Sarma said that the greatest challenge in the upcoming elections will be to defeat Ajmal and his cohorts. He further condemned the mainstreaming of Arabic by Ajmal and others.

"Only the BJP will stand up against Ajmal and his ilk, All the rest, I regret to announce, have surrendered in front of Ajmal and his kind," Sarma said, taking digs at political parties and intellectuals who have allegedly cozied up to the perfume baron's AIUDF in exchange for votes or influence.

Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that government-run madrassas would be closed down soon after the notification to this effect is issued. He, however, refused to use the word 'closure' about the Sanskrit tols.

There are 614 government madrassas in Assam and about 900 private madrassas. On the other hand, there are about 100 government Sanskrit tols and over 500 private tols.

The government spends about Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore on madrassas in the state and about Rs 1 crore on Sanskrit tols annually.

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