Freedom of religion has been recognised as a fundamental right considering its remarkable space and impact in Indian society. But, the pious thinking of the constitution has been weaponised by the proselytising religions to advance extremist religious ideas.
Taking sanctions from fundamental rights under Article 25, the extremist groups have developed countless religious institutions to spread their network of Jihad. Religious extremism has been institutionalised through Mosques and coordination with co-religionists; they are advancing their nefarious agenda.
Formalisation of Mosques
Considering all these misdeeds, the Assam Government under Himanta Biswa Sarma has started the process of formalisation of religious institutions like madrasas and mosques.
Informing about the process of registration to the media, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We have made some Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) that if any Imam comes to your village and you do not know him, immediately inform the Police Station, they will verify, only after that, they can stay. Our Muslim community of Assam is helping us in this work”.
“We’re also making a portal for Imam & other people who are coming to madrasa from outside the state. Those who are from Assam, do not need to register their names in that portal, people from outside will have to register their names in the portal”, he further added.
We're also making a portal for Imam & other people who are coming to madrasa from outside the state. Those who are from Assam, do not need to register their names in that portal, people from outside will have to register their names in the portal: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/te7HUS3785
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2022
A much-awaited instrument to break the Network of Jihadi Groups
The measures have been taken in the light of the growing channels of network of religious extremists under the cloak of religious institutions mostly madrasas and mosques. Reports suggest that five modules of Bangladeshi terrorist group Ansarul Islam have been busted in last five months.
Since March of this year, the Assam Police have reportedly arrested over 40 people connected to these unlawful activities. Recently two clerics were arrested from the Goalpara district of Assam under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for radicalising Muslim youths. These arrested clerics are said to be connected with the terrorist group Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
These terrorists who disguise themselves as clerics enter madrasas and mosques in any area and try to manipulate Muslim youth for Jihad. They influence the youth of this particular community by manipulating religious teachings to suit their needs.
Madrasas and mosques have become a safe haven for such unlawful activities as the law enforcement agencies have little access to them. Furthermore, the political structure of the State ensures that any lawful administrative actions on such illegal religious activities have become a direct threat to the freedom of religion.
The internal politics has proven to provide a safe environment for these terror outfits to operate from these religious institutions as no government can dare to displease a particular religion.
Also Read: Himanta Biswa Sarma is resetting Maharashtra Politics from Guwahati
Illegal religious institutions could be demolished.
In this political scenario, Himanta Biswa Sarma has shown the courage to uphold the law of the land in the true sense. The registration of an Imam or cleric in the government portal will not only provide law enforcement agencies an instrument to keep a vigil on any unlawful activities but will also initiate the process of formalisation of illegal religious institutions.
In the foreseeable future, these religious institutions will come under the strict surveillance of the state. It will become easy for the government to categorize the lawful and unlawful madrasa or mosques according to their legal status and transparency.
Those institutions which run the network of Jihad would be tracked and annihilated separating those who run with the pious purpose of worship. The government’s decision will not only help in the formalisation of mosques but will also help in dismantling the network of terror spreading through these institutions.
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