Rizvi makes a U-turn in new missive to PM

LUCKNOW: After being rebuffed by both Prime Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath over his demand to ban ‘madarsas’, UP Shia Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) chairman Waseem Rizvi is singing a different tune now.

In a complete U-turn on his earlier statement, Rizvi, who had alleged that ‘some madarsas were breeding ground for terrorists,’ now wants their modernisation – something which both PM Modi and UP CM had said recently. In a nine-point letter the PM and UP CM, the controversial waqf board

chief has outlined the need for stringent scrutiny of madarsas and their activities.

Both the PM and the CM had said there was no need of banning the ‘madarsas’ and called for their modernisation and upgradation. The climb down is also being attributed to the death threats and law suits by Muslim organisations against Rizvi over his controversial remarks.

His effigies were burnt in Bareilly and Azamgarh and an organisation All India Faizan-eMedina Council in Bareilly announced a ‘reward’ of R1,000,786 on his head. Rizvi now says the government should make it mandatory to all the ‘madarsas’ to hoist national tricolour at all the national days like, Independence Day and Republic Day. Besides the national song should be sung by the students and teachers every day before start of the school.

“Credentials of all the students, particularly those coming from foreign countries, who are studying in these madarsas, should be certified.

All ‘madarsas’ should hold seminars and programmes regularly to make the students aware about the freedom fighters and educationists like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan,” he said.

The Shia waqf Board chairman also said that all the ‘madarsas’ should be affiliated with ICSE or CBSE boards or even with the state boards so that the standard of education is improved in these institutions and the student gets quality education.