Heralding yet another appeasement measure, the central government has decided to place madrasa certificates on a par with those issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and affiliates of the Council of Board of School Education in India (COBSE). This would make the pass-outs from madrasas eligible for jobs under the government of India. Minister Arjun Singh who made this announcement also mentioned that government will very soon set up Central Madrasa Board.

The interesting fact about this government decision is that there are so many educational institutions in this country run by Hindus and Christians, but  those do not get any such special treatment from the government, therefore the government’s decision amounts to blatant violation of the constitution which guarantees equal rights and protection to all. There are more than 2200 madrasas in the country and studying of Arabic, Quram, Hadees and the Islamic studies are compulsory for the students. The curriculum for the studies is decided by the Jamayat and Mahal Committees and in fact there is no uniformity in studies imparted by the madrasas.

Recently, the central government granted crores of rupees for changing the curriculum of those madrasas and for introducing science, mathematics and such other subjects, even though the government has no real control on the syllabus followed in the madrasas. Until recently, they were not allowing studies in English, classifying it as `Harram’.  It is widely known that in many states, these madrassas are the breeding centers of terrorist and also their hideouts.

On the very same day that the Central government declared a preferential treat to the Muslims, the Communist party that rules Kerala went one more step ahead and gave the green signal for the setting up of an affiliate college of Aligargh Muslim University in Malappuram district.  There are about 25 lakhs Muslims in Malappuram, so the communist government that gave birth to the first and only Muslim majority district in India was duty bound to exhibit their concern for Muslim community ahead of the Muslim league or any such party.  The government has also decided to provide 1000 acres of land in Elamkulam in Malappuram district for that college. When the state is struggling to find even 10 acres of land for setting up any new business venture, finding 1000 acres for a minority’s college did not meet with any serious objection.   

Interestingly,  DYFI who poses as the protector and watchdog of education and employment in the country did not open their mouth about the madrasa education being equated with CBSE or about the affiliated college of Aligargh Muslim University which is famous for being a breeding centre of fanatism and experimenting ways to implement Islamic canons.  The Fatwa that appeared in the campus directing girl students not to wear jeans lead to unrest in the college last year.