Tripura CMs communal remarks draw ire from Muslims

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkars remarks on Muslim Law and Madrassas (Islamic religious school) in the course of his speech on August 1, has drawn ire from Muslims groups, who have termed the comments as highly objectionable.

By Pinaki Das

Agartala, Aug 17 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's remarks on Muslim Law and Madrassas (Islamic religious school) in the course of his speech on August 1, has drawn ire from Muslims groups, who have termed the comments as "highly objectionable".

Thousands of supporters of the Tripura State Jamiat Ulema (TSJU), a Muslim body, blocked the road in front of the Secretariat in Agartala on Thursday to protest against Sarkar's remarks.

Addressing a mass convention on "Protection and Social Security for the Minorities" at the Agartala Town Hall, Sarkar reportedly said that "Madrassas encourage beggary".

The protestors said that the Chief Minister is "anti-Muslim" and his comment is "highly objectionable".

Protestors shouted slogans against Sarkar and demanded an apology for his "derogatory remarks".

They said that Madrassas are Islamic religious schools where Arabic and the holy Koran are taught, but the Chief Minister seems to make people atheist.

They said that only four percent of the Muslim population joined Madrassas and the remaining 96 percent received their education in normal schools.

Even then, only eight percent Muslim population was employed in government sector in Tripura, they said, adding that more jobs should be made available for the minorities in the government sector.

Protestors also raised slogans against Tripura School Education Minister Keshab Mazumder, who according to them had recently said that the 'parda' (veil) system is a responsible for the backwardness of the Muslim women and therefore should be withdrawn.

The protestors considered the remarks of the minister as an attack on the Muslim Personal Law.

The road to the Secretariat remained closed for several hours until a team of the TSJU led by its President Mufti Tayebur Rehaman was allowed to meet Panchayat Minister Manik Dey as the Chief Minister was out of the State.

The team placed a charter of demands, which included more government jobs for the Muslims, compensation for those displaced due to border fencing with Bangladesh and more funds for development of the Madrassas.

ANI