New Delhi: In a recent public declaration, Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, has issued a strong condemnation of comments made by the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, regarding madrasas. Kumar described these Islamic educational institutions as potential breeding grounds for terrorism, sparking significant controversy and backlash.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Kumar made these contentious remarks at an event, where he suggested that some madrasas were teaching students to use AK-47 rifles with broomsticks. He criticized the Telangana state government for financially supporting these institutions, despite his claims of their dangerous teachings.

Maulana Asad Madani refuted these allegations, describing them as completely unfounded and a clear attempt to stir up animosity and Islamophobic sentiment within the country. “It is troubling that someone with such divisive views holds a key position in the government,” Madani remarked. He defended the madrasas, highlighting their role as centers of Islamic learning and their historical contributions to educational, moral, and interfaith initiatives in India.

Madani emphasized that for more than two hundred years, madrasas have been exemplars of religious tolerance and peace. He strongly rejected the notion that these institutions could train students in manufacturing weapons like AK-47s from broomsticks, calling such allegations absurd and reckless.

In conclusion, Madani called on the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs to issue an official apology and to foster a climate of responsible and inclusive discourse to maintain unity in India’s diverse cultural landscape. His statements underscore the ongoing concerns regarding the rise of Islamophobia in the country.