Striking an aggressive pro-Hindutva stance before the assembly polls, the Shiv Sena has come out in support of BJP parliamentarian from Uttar Pradesh Sakshi Maharaj, who recently kicked up a storm with his statement that madrasas across the country were imparting "education of terror" and "love jihad".
The Sena charged that these madrasas were imparting religious education, which had little practical use in this age of competition and added that they had pushed a generation of Muslims into "a pond of ignorance and darkness".
"What is controversial in Sakshi Maharaj's statement? But for years, any criticism of religious fundamentalism among Muslims generates ripples," said an editorial on Tuesday in Sena organ Saamana that has party president Uddhav Thackeray as the editor. It added that criticism of madrasas being "factories which create jihadis" was old and there was evidence in this regard.
"Madrasas impart religious education and what is the advantage of this education in today's age of competition?... what lessons regarding national sentiments are imparted there?" said the editorial, adding that the BJP MP's criticism was "the bitter truth."
The Sena also attacked "fake secularists" for the controversy over Sakshi Maharaj's remarks and charged that terrorists, Pakistani nationals and stashes of arms were found in these madrasas. It also questioned the action taken on these institutions.
"The new generation of Muslims must get out of the grips of the madrasas and join the national mainstream. Instead of religious education, they must take practical education which reflects national sentiments...," the editorial demanded. It also criticised the madrasas for twisting history and glorifying invaders like Aurangzeb and Shaista Khan.
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