A major controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh when allegations have been reported that in many illegal madrasas of the state, more than 500 Hindu children are being pressurized to forcibly read Quran and adopt the religion of Islam. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the matter and sought a detailed report from the state government within 15 days. According to complaints, many madrasas of the state are allegedly forcing non-Muslim children to read the Quran and pressurizing them to adopt Islam.
NHRC strict on conversion of 500 Hindu children in Madhya Pradesh
NHRC, while taking action on these allegations, has directed the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department to investigate. NHRC member Priyank Kanungo has confirmed that the Commission received a complaint on 26 September that claimed the existence of an organized conversion racket in Madhya Pradesh.
How did non-Muslim children enter madrasas?
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised serious questions on the entry of non-Muslim children in madrasas running without government permission. Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Barwani, Khandwa, Khargone and Parasia districts have been specially identified. The Commission said that according to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Article 28 (3) of the Constitution, giving religious education without permission is prohibited. The Commission has directed the government to immediately remove such children from these institutions and an FIR should be lodged against non-recognized madrasas.
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Admission of Hindu children in Madrasas received government grants in Morena and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh
Priyank Kanungo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Tuesday expressed concern over the admission of Hindu children in government -graded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh. According to Kanungo, about 500 Hindu children are allegedly being taught Quran and other Islamic teachings, making them allegations of conspiracy to convert to Islam. Kanungo told ANI, “We received complaints of admission of about 500 Hindu children in government -graded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh … The complainant has accused the Quran and conspiracy to convert Hindu children by teaching the subjects related to it. We have sent this complaint to the Madhya Pradesh government for investigation.”
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Kanungo stressed that Hindu children should not be admitted to madrasas and Muslim children studying in madrasas should also be admitted to schools for basic education. “Our main concern: Hindu children should not go to madrasas. Even if Muslim children go to madrasas, they should also go to school for their basic education … Therefore, it is important to understand that madrasas are not a place to educate children. If there are Muslims in the madrasa, they should be admitted to school while continuing madrasa,”
The NHRC member claimed that the situation is a severe violation of Article 28-3 of the Constitution of India, which prohibits religious education in fully government money-run educational institutions. Questioning the use of government money for madrasas, Kanungo said that if the allegations are correct, the state government should take action against the officials responsible. He said, “This is a severe violation of Article 283 of the Indian Constitution, and if it is being done by government money, the state government should take action against these guilty officials….”
The NHRC has sent the complaint to the Madhya Pradesh government for investigation. Kanungo stressed the need for clarity on the role of madrasas in education and emphasized that these institutions should not replace formal school education. The NHRC has written a letter to the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh asking for an inquiry into the allegations and an action report within 15 days. According to a letter written to NHRC on 26 September, the complainant has alleged that a well -organized illegal conversion gang is going on in various districts of Madhya Pradesh, which is targeting 556 Hindu children with the intention of adopting Islam by admission to 27 unauthorized madrasas.
The complaint further stated, “The complainant further alleged that these madrasas, adolescent justice (care and protection) Act located in Morena, Islampura, Jaura, Paursa, Ambah, Kailaras, Sambalgarh and other areas, are reading the Quran and Hades to the Hades of the Indian Constitution, without proper government permission, without proper government permission. There is a violation of the order of the order that prevents non-Islamic children from reading in Islamic madrasas.
The complainant has also alleged that this racket may contain illegal foreign funding and anti-national elements and despite a year has passed, the government has not taken any effective action. “The complainant has demanded the commission’s intervention in this matter and requested the officials to file an FIR, save the affected children, take strict action against the madrasa operators and to end this illegal conversion network and end this illegal conversion network. Do it in the letter that the allegations made in the complaint appear to be a violation of the human rights of the victims.