Asaduddin Owaisi slams Assam CM Sarma over Madrasa comments

All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday hit back at Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the BJP leader’s sharp criticism of madrassas, saying they teach self-respect and empathy “unlike Shakhas”. Taking to Twitter, Owaisi said that the Assam CM is “busy with hate speech” when 18 people have died in the state and seven lakh have been affected due to floods.

Earlier at an event in Delhi, Sarma argued that children won’t be able to think about becoming doctors and engineers as long as “madrassas” exist. He further stated that the word ‘madrassa’ should “vanish”, claiming that children are admitted to a madrassa “in violation of human rights”.

Reacting to Sarma’s remark, the AIMIM president said that many madrassas teach science, math and social studies besides Islam and were at the forefront of India’s



freedom movement when “Sanghis were acting as British agents”.

“Unlike Shakhas, they teach self-respect & empathy. Illiterate Sanghis wouldn’t understand. Why did Hindu social reformer Raja Ram Mohun Roy study in a madrasa?” Owaisi tweeted. “Obsessing over Muslim ancestry shows your inferiority complex. Muslims have enriched India & will continue to do so.”

Owaisi said Biswa's comments made it clear that the Assam Chief Minister hated Islam and Muslims, and added that the BJP leader did not know that the Narendra Modi government was implementing a madrasa modernisation programme. 

Funds were allocated for this programme in the budget that was passed by Parliament. Science and math were taught in the madrasas. There was a minister incharge of this programme, Owaisi Said.