The Uttarakhand Congress on Wednesday termed the State’s Minority Education Bill, 2025, as “unconstitutional”, accusing the BJP government of “religious polarisation”. It said the Bill has nothing to do with improving the education of minority communities.
Suryakant Dhasmana, vice president (organisation) of the Uttarakhand Congress unit, said the Bill is “unconstitutional and a blatant violation of Articles 25 and 26” of the Constitution. He also claimed that if challenged in court, the government will face defeat on this issue.
‘Madrasas the target’
Questioning the new law requiring all educational institutions for minority communities to affiliate with the Uttarakhand Board of School Education, Mr. Dhasmana said these institutions operate only after obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Education Department. “Many schools in the State run by Sikh institutions and Christian missionaries are affiliated with the CBSE, ICSE or international boards… the government’s intention is not to uplift the education of any minority community, but to pursue religious polarisation by targeting madrasas run solely by the Muslim community,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madarsa Education Board, called the Bill “a very good step” by the government and said it will provide quality education to children from the Muslim community.
The Bill was passed in August during the Assembly’s Monsoon Session held in Gairsain and got Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh (retd.)’s assent on Monday. It will become law after a notification is issued.
