Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Asim Azmi has strongly criticized Minister Nitesh Rane for his repeated allegations against madrasas, accusing him of attempting to “defame and target Muslims.”
Rane had earlier claimed that an illegal madrasa was operating in Nandurbar’s Akkalkuwa taluka and urged the Maharashtra government to investigate all madrasas in the state. He alleged that some institutions could have links to extremist groups like the Taliban.
Reacting to these remarks, Azmi told IANS, “Nitesh Rane seems to have only one job—to target Muslims daily and create controversy. Every morning, he wakes up thinking of new ways to stay in the news.”
Azmi defended madrasas, emphasizing their role in instilling good values, patriotism, and brotherhood. “An individual can be wrong, but a madrasa cannot be wrong,” he asserted. He also argued that the presence of illegal immigrants in a madrasa should not be used to justify action against all such institutions.
“For instance, many Indians overstay their visas in countries like the U.S., UK, and Saudi Arabia. But cases are not filed against their employers. This is just cheap politics,” he remarked.
To counter Rane’s claims, Azmi suggested installing CCTV cameras in madrasas to prove that they focus on education and not illegal activities. “Let people see for themselves what madrasas actually teach,” he said.
Rane, on the other hand, had written to the Chief Minister demanding a thorough investigation into madrasas to determine if they were genuinely educational or involved in “anti-national activities.” He alleged that some madrasas might be creating extremists rather than students.
“If such activities continue, all madrasas should be shut down,” Rane declared, citing recent government action against an illegal madrasa in Akkalkuwa, where a Yemeni national was allegedly involved in planning terrorist activities.
This is not the first time Rane has courted controversy. In January, he had called for a ban on burqas during Board examinations, arguing that they could facilitate cheating and pose security threats.
