Bill to convert madrassas move leads to noisy scenes in Assam Assembly

BILL TO CONVERT MADRASSAS

* No religious education with government expenditure: Himanta

* AIDUF MLAs stage walkout

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A noisy scene was witnessed on the very first-day of the three-day-long winter session of the Assam Assembly that commenced from Monday. The situation occurred immediately after Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had introduced the 'The Assam Repealing Bill-2020' primarily to convert all the provincialized madrassas into general schools. If the Bill is passed, it will become effective from April 1, 2021.

While both the Congress and the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) opposed the move and demanded that the Bill be first sent to a select committee or totally withdrawn.

Replying to the demands of the Opposition members, Minister Sarma pointed out, "The Bill will not affect the privately-run madrassas. There is no provision to regulate these madrassas. Hence these private madrassas will not be affected at all."

Sarma added, "The Bill aims to convert only the provincialized madrassas into general schools. The staffers will not be adversely affected. What is more, they will get all the benefits of government teachers including pay scale and pension among others."

Further clarifying the government's stand on the issue, he said, "Religious education cannot be allowed on government expenditure. The syllabi of provincialized madrassas included subjects also on the Quran Sharif and Arabic languages. After conversion, these madrassas will not be able to render classes on the Quran Sharif. However, these converted schools will be allowed to continue teaching the subject of Arabic language. However, stress will be laid on practically-relevant spoken Arabic classes.

He added, "The privately-run Madrassas must follow the 'Right to Education Act' and get registered. The House will discuss these issues in the next session.

Earlier, immediately after the Bill was introduced in the house, Congress and AIDUF MLAs put up several questions and issues on the Bill.

Indian National Congress (INC) MLA Nurul Huda said, "Many youths from Assam have been getting employment overseas as they were taught the Arabic language in the madrassas. However if the madrassas are closed down, then it will go against 1.10 crore people. So, the Bill must be withdrawn." Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha (INC) posed, "Has the Bill been brought to bring about religious polarity in the State and vote-bank politics?" Sherman Ali Ahmed (INC) demanded, "The Bill must be withdrawn, and the madrassas must be made 'centres of excellence'." Rockibul Hussain (INC) also opposed the government's move.

Opposing the Bill, AIUDF legislator Hafiz Bashir Ahmed (Qasimi) pointed out, "The madrassas in Assam have enrollment of about 1.20 lakh students. Prior to the introduction of the Bill, the government should have taken into confidence all stakeholders including the political parties and the persons who had established the madrassas. Since that has not been done, the Bill should be sent to a select committee of the Assembly." Rafiqul Islam of the party demanded that the Bill must be withdrawn. He, however, stressed the need to upgrade the madrassas in all aspects.

However, the Education Minister remained steadfast in his stand on the Bill. Dissatisfied with this, the AIUDF members staged a walkout.

Discussion on this Bill will take place in the House on December 30.

Also Read: Assam Assembly Election 2021: BJP to win more than 100 seats -Himanta Biswa Sarma

Also Watch: Himanta Biswa Sarma Addressing Press at Janata Bhawan (Assam Secretariat), Guwahati