Several Madrasas Sealed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand; Muslims protest strongly
Dehradun, 7 March – (www.deccanlive.com): During the holy month of Ramadan, authorities in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, sealed 11 madrasas, sparking strong protests from the Muslim community, who called the action illegal. Officials justified the move by stating that the madrasas were not registered with the Madrasa Board or the Education Department.
According to media reports, following the district administration’s directive on February 28, officials sealed 11 unregistered madrasas in Dehradun. District Magistrate Saavin Bansal stated that:
- In Dehradun tehsil, 16 madrasas are unregistered, while 8 are registered.
- In Vikasnagar tehsil, 34 madrasas are unregistered, while 27 are registered.
- In Doiwala tehsil, 1 madrasa is registered, while 6 are unregistered.
The sealing of madrasas has led to widespread outrage among Muslims, who argue that the decision is unfair, especially during Ramadan.
According to Sub-District Magistrate Vinod Kumar of Vikasnagar tehsil, 9 madrasas have been sealed since March 3, along with two more in Doiwala and Sadar areas. District Magistrate Saavin Bansal stated that these sealed madrasas were not registered with the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board and did not have approved building plans from the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA). Following the district administration’s orders, officials carried out the sealing process.
The action sparked strong protests by the Muslim Seva Organization, which demonstrated at the Collectorate and MDDA office. Naeem Qureshi, president of the organization, condemned the move as illegal, stating that madrasa administrators were not given any prior notice.
Muslims across Uttarakhand have strongly opposed the government’s actions. BSP leader Mayawati also criticized the Uttarakhand government, calling the move biased and against secularism. She urged the government to avoid hurting religious sentiments with such discriminatory actions.
