Over 170 Madrasas sealed in Uttarakhand; CM calls it ‘historic step’
Dehradun: At least 170 madrasas have been sealed across Uttarakhand in recent days, following a statewide crackdown by the authorities on institutions that are allegedly running without registration. The action has drawn sharp criticism from sections of the Muslim community, who say that the move targets Islamic educational institutions unfairly.
In Haldwani’s Banbhulpura locality, which has a large Muslim population, a joint team of officials from the district administration, municipal corporation, and local police carried out inspections on Sunday. Officials said the inspection drive was focused on checking registration status and compliance with regulatory norms. Seven madrasas in the area were sealed for reportedly being unregistered.
Similar actions have been reported from other districts, including Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar, where authorities have either sealed madrasas or are continuing investigations.
The sealing orders followed surveys conducted by special teams set up by the state government, according to a statement issued by the office of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Chief Minister Dhami described the drive as a “historic step” and said institutions found leading students towards “radicalism in the name of education” would not be allowed to operate in the state. His remarks echoed the broader narrative pushed by some Hindu nationalist groups, which have claimed without evidence that certain madrasas promote extremist ideologies.
Local imams and members of the Muslim community have expressed concern over the move, calling it one-sided and discriminatory. They pointed out that many of the sealed institutions are decades old and have long served as centres for basic religious education. Some also accused the government of not providing a fair opportunity for madrasas to comply with regulatory requirements.
The action has raised questions about the future of hundreds of students enrolled in these institutions. Community leaders have demanded a transparent process and warned that the closure of such a large number of madrasas without due process could lead to distrust and marginalisation.
According to officials, the state currently has over 500 madrasas operating, and more may face closure if they are found in violation of rules laid down by the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board or the state education department. The government has not yet issued a statement on how displaced students from the sealed madrasas will be accommodated or supported going forward.
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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.
