Madrasas are not centres of terrorism: Patil

NEW DELHI: Giving a clean chit to Islamic madrasas, often accused of being the breeding ground of militancy, the Government on Sunday said these religious seminaries were not centres of terrorism.

"We believe that Islamic madarsas are seats of social service. They are not the centre of terrorism," Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told a symposium here.

"Some violent incidents have taken place in the recent past - in Varanasi, Jama Masjid and in Delhi. Someone must have done that. They will definitely get punishment. But for that it is wrong to blame the entire community. It is wrong and we will not allow that to happen," he said.

Participating as the chief guest at the symposium on "Are madrasas viable seats of social service or breeding ground of terrorism", Patil said madrasas, where knowledge of humanism is being imparted and where human values are being taught, could only be termed as "servants of humanity".

"We are not ready to accept that they are the breeding ground of terrorism. We don't accept that. And keeping this in mind our government will go ahead and work," he said.

Referring to the recent Mumbai blasts, where nearly 200 people lost their lives, Patil said some vested interests are trying to break the social fabric, communal harmony and brotherhood in society, which the government would not allow.