On Saturday (13th July), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief Priyank Kanoongo made a heartfelt appeal to not enroll Hindus and other non-Muslim children in Islamic seminaries (madrassas).
In a tweet, he stated, “Madrassas are centres for providing Islamic religious education and are outside the scope of the Right to Education Act. As such, retaining Hindu and other non-Muslim children in Madrasass is not only a violation of their fundamental constitutional rights but can also become a reason for spreading religious animosity in the society.”
In this regard, Priyank Kanoongo had requested State governments to make alternate arrangements for non-Muslim students, who are currently enrolled in madrassas, in regular schools.
“The Chief Secretary of the State Government of Uttar Pradesh had issued an order in accordance with the recommendation of the NCPCR,” he informed.
मदरसा ,इस्लामिक मज़हबी शिक्षा सिखाने का केंद्र होता है और शिक्षा अधिकार क़ानून के दायरे के बाहर होता है।
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) July 13, 2024
ऐसे में मदरसों में हिंदू व अन्य ग़ैर मुस्लिम बच्चों को रखना न केवल उनके संवैधानिक मूल अधिकार का हनन है बल्कि समाज में धार्मिक वैमनस्य फैलने का कारण भी बन सकता है।
इसलिए… pic.twitter.com/YbY0fTMjuL
Priyank Kanoongo warned that the Islamic outfit Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind had been spreading rumours about the order and inciting the public against the UP government.
“It has been learnt through newspapers that an Islamic organisation called Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is misleading people about this order and is working to incite the sentiments of the general public against the government. This organisation of clerics is a branch of Darul Uloom Deoband against which the Commission has taken action for supporting Ghazwa-e-Hind,” he added.
The NCPCR chief highlighted the instance of forced religious conversion and circumcision of a Hindu boy in a village near Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. The incident was reported in October last year.
“None should violate the religious freedom of children. I request the public with folded hands to not be misled by any fundamentalist organisation and to participate in building a better future for children,” Priyank Kanoongo wrote while demanding strong action against fake news peddlers.
