U'khand: Transfer students of closed illegal madrassas to those affiliated with board, says chairman
Dehradun (PTI): Uttarakhand Madrassa Education Board on Saturday expressed concern over the future of children enrolled in illegal madrassas which have been closed by the state government for not being affiliated to the board.
The board urged the district magistrates (DMs) concerned to make arrangements for the transfer of these students to recognised madrassas.
A formal letter in this regard will soon be sent to the DMs of all the districts where action has been taken against such madrassas, Uttarakhand Madrassa Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Kasmi told PTI.
"We are sensitive to the matter. Though the action against illegal madrassas is justified, the future of children enrolled in such madrassas should not suffer. We will send a letter to the DMs in a day or two requesting them to transfer such children to the recognised madrassas in the state so that their studies are not affected," he said.
Around 100 illegal madrassas in five districts -- Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar -- have been sealed after a verification drive carried out by the state government found they were being run without proper documents.
However, not many students have been affected by the government's action as the number of children going to the illegal madrassas is not huge, he said.
"Unaffiliated madrassas without proper documents and facilities like the ones running in one or two room accommodations without toilets and other basic amenities for children are viewed with suspicion by parents who avoid sending their children to them. Hence their number is negligible," he said.
Still, the board will request the authorities concerned to transfer them at the earliest to the recognised madrassas, he said.
However, the Madrassa Board Chairman justified the state government's action against the illegal madrassas saying their operators should follow the norms and have them legalised.
"The board recently gave recognition to 49 madrassas and renewed the affiliation of 47 others. There is a set procedure for the affiiliation of madrassas with the board. Madrassa operators should co-operate with the authorities and not hesitate in coming forward for their legalisation," Kasmi said.
There are 467 legal madrassas affiliated to the board in the state where around 46,000 students study, Kasmi said.
Accusing the opposition parties of politicising the issue, he said they are raising a hue and cry over the closure of illegal madrassas as they are devoid of issues.
"It is a positive action not targeted against any community but against illegal madrassas. After all why should illegal madrassas be allowed to run?" Kasmi asked.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
