The Centre on Wednesday declined to intervene in the Uttar Pradesh [Images] Board of Madrassa Education banning co-education in madrassas across the state, saying it is a "state subject". "Madrassa education is a state subject. We do not want to interfere with the decision of the UP Madrassa Board," Minister of State for Human Resources and Development M A A Fatmi told media-persons in New Delhi [Images].
Earlier, the UPBME had banned co-education in madrassas across Uttar Pradesh, stating it is against the "spirit of Islam".
"In Islam, parda (veil) is very important. By allowing co-education we promote be-pardgi (women without veil), which is against the Shariyat. This is why we have directed all the madrassas to do away with the co-education system from this academic session. And we will ensure that this directive is followed in letter and spirit," UPBME chairman Haji Rizawan Haq had told PTI.
Fatmi said the government will set up a Central Madrassa Board which will take care of all concerns of the students.
"Madrassas are now coming under the state madrassa boards. It is their responsibility to take decisions on their functioning," Fatmi said.
A few thousand girl students in Uttar Pradesh are facing a gloomy future in view of the decision of the UPBME. Uttar Pradesh has more than 16,000 madrassas of which only over 1,900 are affiliated to the UPBME.
Among the affiliated ones, there are 170 Madrassas exclusively for girls and the rest are for boys, which were allowing co-education.
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