A report from Uttarakhand’s madrasa board indicates that 749 non-Muslim children are enrolled in 30 madrasas across Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The Congress has used this revelation to criticize the state government regarding educational standards.

According to the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board’s report, these non-Muslim students were admitted with parental consent and are being taught using NCERT books. The total student count in the state’s madrasas is 7,399, as stated in the report.

Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni condemned the BJP government for what she sees as a reflection of the state’s education system. She questioned the situation, emphasizing that nearly 10% of madrasa students being non-Muslim raises concerns about the quality of education in a state ruled by the BJP for seven years.

Dasauni highlighted that the issue raises questions about non-Muslim families preferring madrasas over government schools, urging the BJP government to reflect on the circumstances. She criticized the BJP’s claims about providing quality education and promoting Hindutva, questioning whether this represents a new model of Hindutva.

She also mentioned the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights summoning the principal secretary of minority welfare, expressing that the state education minister should have been summoned as well.

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