Yogi government makes it mandatory for national anthem to be sung at madarsas

It has been only a few days since BJP emerged victorious in Uttar Pradesh and formed a consecutive government. Believe it or not, the record-breaking victory of BJP in the crucial state of UP is the result of the efforts of Yogi Adityanath and his previous government. Under his rule, the state of Uttar Pradesh emerged as a safer place for women, the biggest export hub and a state free of ‘Gunda raj’ which no previous government did not even think of.

Now, he is back in the state with a thumping majority and has already started taking some exemplary decisions even before taking the oath. The Yogi government’s recent decision has proved that it has been brought to power yet again for a reason.

Recital of the national anthem is now mandatory at madarsas

In what can be seen as an exemplary decision, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made it mandatory to recite the national anthem for the Madrasa students. With this decision introduced, the Madarsa students will now have to recite the anthem in the morning along with other prayers.

The decision came during a meeting held by the UP Board of Madarsa Education. Chairperson of the board Iftikhar Ahmad Javed reported, “The national anthem is sung in various schools and we want to instil patriotism in madrasa students too so that they know our culture and history apart from religious studies. It is already recited in some madrasas. We have made it compulsory now from the upcoming academic session.”

It is pertinent to note that in 2017, the government had made the hoisting of the national flag and the recital of the national anthem mandatory in the madarsas on the occasion of Independence Day.

The board also highlighted other concerns related to examinations, attendance, and recruitment of teachers. Then, it came to the conclusion that “Those who wish to become a madrassa teacher have to qualify Teachers’ Eligibility Test (Test) based Madrassa Teachers Eligibility Test (MTET).”

Yogi Government needs a pat on its back for the decision

Earlier as reported by TFI, in 2018, a video had surfaced on social media where one can see a Maulvi (Muslim cleric) refusing to sing the national anthem while the flag was being hoisted at a Madarsa. In the video, a person (probably a teacher) was seen arguing with the Maulvis. This person wanted recitation of the national anthem but the Maulvis were adamant upon not singing the national anthem arguing, “Humare yaha ye sab nahi hota”. It isn’t just the one case where Islamists are reluctant to recite the national anthem but in another case, students at the Manzar-e-Islam- the biggest Barelvi madrasa in the city- hoisted the national flag but didn’t sing the national anthem.

Read more: Maulvi refuses to sing national anthem during I-Day celebrations

Seemingly, for some Islamists and Maulvis, a true Muslim should not sing the national anthem as it is against the tenets of Islam. However, what comes as a shame is that these Islamists do not respect the nation they live in. Thus, the Yogi government needed to step in with such a brave decision which will probably help instil patriotism in madarsas’ students.