The Asian Age

MP madrassas told to hold I-Day events

- RABINDRA NATH CHOUDHURY

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Madrassa Board has directed the 4,750 registered madrassas in the state to hoist the national flag, hold cultural programmes and compulsori­ly take part in or organise “Tiranga rallies” on the Independen­ce Day.

An order by Madhya Pradesh Madrasa Board to its affiliated schools in the state to “compulsori­ly” observe Independen­ce Day and send pictures of activities organised on the occasion has triggered a controvers­y here.

A section of madrasa officials in MP on Saturday took strong exception to the order, saying that it amounted to “putting to test our patriotism”.

Gwalior madrasa manager S. Khan said the madrasas in MP had been celebratin­g Independen­ce Day and Republic Day and

Authoritie­s of several madrasas in the state are planning to meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking appropriat­e action in the matter

also, other occasions of national importance.

“However, the order to madrasas to take pictures of Independen­ce Day celebratio­ns, including hoisting of the Tricolour, cultural programmes on the occasion and tiranga rallies in the institutio­ns, and to send them to the board clearly manifests lack of trust in the authoritie­s of these educationa­l institutio­ns,” another madrasa official said.

Authoritie­s of several madrasas in the state are planning to meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking appropriat­e action in the matter.

Meanwhile, Opposition Congress slammed the order calling it “discrimina­tory” and “unnecessar­y”.

“The order is discrimina­tory. Why other government-run schools in the state have not been asked to send photograph­s of Independen­ce Day celebratio­ns to the higher authoritie­s concerned?” a Congress spokesman asked.

 ?? AP ?? Devotees participat­e in a procession transporti­ng a giant idol of Ganesha to a worship venue in preparatio­n of Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Mumbai on Saturday. The ten-day festival will begin on August 25. —
AP Devotees participat­e in a procession transporti­ng a giant idol of Ganesha to a worship venue in preparatio­n of Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Mumbai on Saturday. The ten-day festival will begin on August 25. —

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