The BJP-led state government’s recent decision to close down 655 madarsas is Rajasthan has invited strong criticism from the minority community and its organisations.

The saffron party is again facing allegations of implementing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) agenda by depriving Muslim children of education in madarsas. Within a week, this is the second controversy after government ordered mandatory blood donation camps at all colleges on September 25 – the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, a date which may coincide with Bakr-Eid.

The state government said that the decision to close madarsas was taken after a detailed report submitted by the Rajasthan Madarsa Board. The report says 2,352 registered madarsas receive aid from the state and 655 of them have enrolments of less than 20 students, which is not enough to sustain them.

The government has also decided that para-teachers in these closed seminaries will not be transferred elsewhere, which means 252 para-teachers will become jobless. The maximum number of madarsas closed are in Jaipur and Tonk districts.

“The decision has been taken due to poor enrolment. At many places there was no enrolment,” said Saeed Ahmed, secretary of the madarsa board.

However, several political and social organisations have registered their strong protest against the state government’s decision. According to them, District Information System for Education (DISE) report 2013-14 says that state has over 2,352 madarsas with an enrolment of 1.87 lakh. Other than religious teachings, students get to learn Urdu along with other subjects.

“According to Sachar committee report, Muslims are the most backward when it comes to education. The elementary education given in madarsas to our kids has increased their interest and inclination for higher education. Instead of motivating kids for education, the BJP government is closing madarsas,” said Mujaffar Bharti, president of Maulana Azad Lok Kalyan Sansthan.

The minority leaders have alleged that low enrolment cannot be the criteria to close the institutes. “The BJP is implementing the RSS agenda ever since it came to power in Rajasthan. The decision has been taken in a planned way,” said All India Congress Committee secretary Mirza Irshad Baig.

Rajasthan Urdu Teachers Association has also accused the state of discrimination. “Most of the religious seminaries are being run without teachers and that has been the major reason behind the dwindling enrolment,” said association president Ameen Kaimkhany.