‘Madrasas made a scapegoat’

In the wake of Bardhaman blast, say minority organisations

October 20, 2014 10:33 am | Updated May 23, 2016 04:48 pm IST - KOLKATA

: Alleging that in the aftermath of the accidental blast case in Bardhaman district, the madrasas in Bengal are being made a scapegoat by the police, eight minority organisations of West Bengal have decided to write to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday seeking an appointment with her to discuss the issue. The decision was taken in a convention of various minority groups here on Sunday.

Recently, a madrasa located at Simulia village in Bardhaman came under the scanner of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case.

An 11-member delegation consisting of six Muslims and five leaders from other religions will meet Ms. Banerjee if she gives an appointment. “We will urge her to form a committee with leaders from Islam and other religions to probe the issue,” said Md. Qamaruzzaman, general secretary of the All Bengal Minority Youth Federation. Alleging that after the Bardhaman blast case, the police are “regularly visiting madrasas,” he said that this is not “proper” since madrasas are educational institutions.

The delegation will also demand an impartial probe and adequate punishment for those involved in the blast case. The minority organisations have threatened to hit the streets in protest if Ms. Banerjee refuses to meet them. “We will ask for an appointment with her within one week. If she does not meet us, we will hit the streets in protest,” said Md. Qamaruzzaman.

Siddiqullah Chowdhury, general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, also alleged that madrasas are being made a scapegoat in the Bardhaman blast case. Claiming that due to the certain sections of the media, a “negative view” of madrasas is being created, he said that representatives of the minority organisations will meet the “chief editors of various media houses” in this regard.

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