Madarasas in Andhra Pradesh have set up a "no entry" board for students from border States particularly Bihar, West Bengal and Assam

By Syed Akbar

Hyderabad: Madarasas in the State have set up a "no entry" board for students from border States particularly Bihar, West Bengal and Assam this academic year.

The Deeni Madaris Board, an umbrella body of Islamic seminaries in the State, has issued an advisory to all madarasas asking them not to admit students from Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. The managements have been asked to be particular in refusing students from Bihar and conduct a thorough study of the background of students from other States.

The new academic year in madarasas in the State begins after the annual Ramzan vacation. Every year in the month of Shawwal, which follows the month of Ramzan, hundreds of students from north India seek admission in the 500 and odd important Islamic seminaries across the State.

The working committee of the Deeni Madaris Board which held a meeting in the city decided to deny admissions for students from border States and be wary of students from other States.

"India is a democratic nation. Every Indian has a right to study anywhere in the country. But in view of recent developments we have decided, in the larger interests of the minority community, to be careful about students outside Andhra Pradesh. We have to come out with restrictions on students from certain States. Non-locals will have to submit transfer certificates from the madarasa they had last studied, besides a nativity or residence certificate from a government agency concerned," says Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, board secretary.

The Moulana, who is currently in Saudi Arabia performing Umra, expressed concern over the recent incidents which have tarnished the image of the community.

During the recent raids on a group of madarasas in Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district, police and Intelligence sleuths sought records on students from border States. Even the madarasa managed by Moulana Saifullah Rahmani was raided in the dead of the night. The police were searching for students from Bihar and West Bengal.

According to sources, about 30 per cent of students in madarasas with residential facility are from outside Andhra Pradesh. A good number of students are from Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal and Assam. Madarasas in Hyderabad are in great demand because of the quality modern vocational education they offer along with the religious knowledge. Even the US government has been supporting a few madarasas with funds for offering modern courses like English, mathematics and science.