Government is within its right to undertake a survey of madrasas: Maulana Arshad Madani

Saharanpur: Muslim scholar Maulana Arshad Madani said that the government has the right to conduct a survey of madrasas. The principal of Darul Uloom in Uttar Pradesh's Deoband said the community has no problem in providing information about the madrasas to the authorities.

"Let them conduct the survey. I see nothing wrong with it. There are no illegal activities being carried out in the madrasas. If any madrasa has been constructed illegally after a land grab, we will have no problem if the government demolishes it," he told the media.

The scholar added that the government can do whatever it feels is in the national interest but there should be no efforts to target Muslims. "This is a message that is being sent across and we are opposed to it."

Emphasising that madrasas are the centre of enlightenment and love, he said madrasas exist to fulfil religious needs. "Imams for lakhs of mosques are needed. They come from these madrasas. I have told madrasas that all questions of the government should be answered. Madrasa land should be legal."

He further stated that madrasa operators have been told that there should be good and hygienic food arrangements.