Despite the SC ruling securing the rights of madrasas, several institutions have surrendered recognition, accusing the Yogi government of intimidation and broken promises
NEW DELHI/KANPUR – Madrasas across Uttar Pradesh are facing what many describe as a calculated campaign of harassment by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government. In a development that has shocked the Muslim community, especially in Kanpur, at least 12 madrasa operators have recently surrendered their official recognition. This follows ongoing pressure and surveillance by state authorities, which madrasa leaders call unjustified and politically motivated.
“We never expected such treatment from a government that claimed to respect all religions,” said Maulana Tariq Qasmi, who runs a madrasa in Kanpur. “There is constant interference, new rules every day, and zero cooperation. If the government doesn’t want us to function with dignity, what option do we have but to return the recognition?”
The operators allege that they are being pushed into a corner under the guise of reform and modernisation. The Yogi government has claimed that its goal is to improve madrasa education by introducing NCERT textbooks from Class 1 to 3 and eventually introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the curriculum. But madrasa heads are not buying the narrative.
Maulana Faiyaz Ahmad, who runs a madrasa in Unnao, questioned the motives: “If the government is really serious about modernising madrasas, where is the financial support? Where is the training? They just want control without providing a single rupee. This is not reform, this is bullying.”
Madrasa operators say that the so-called “modernisation schemes” exist only on paper. Despite repeated assurances from both state and central governments, there is no visible support for infrastructure, staff training, or curriculum development. The operators also expressed deep resentment about the new rule that makes uploading students’ and teachers’ data on the U-DISE portal mandatory.
“This rule is being used to harass us,” said Mufti Zameeruddin from Kanpur Dehat. “They say it’s for transparency, but the real goal is to create hurdles. We don’t have the staff or resources to handle this kind of digital load, and when we fail, they threaten to cancel recognition.”
He added, “They are trying to break our backs with bureaucracy. If they want to shut down madrasas, they should say it openly.”
Sources reveal that many madrasas are voluntarily stepping away from government recognition to avoid harassment, inspections, and the threat of closure. “We’d rather run independently than bow to these unfair demands,” said another madrasa head who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “Once we surrender recognition, they can’t interfere with how we teach or who we hire.”
What’s more worrying is the communal colour that has been added to this issue. Activists and scholars argue that the government’s focus on madrasas, while ignoring substandard private schools across the state, points to a deeper prejudice.
There is a general feeling that the government is deliberately bypassing the spirit of the legal rulings. “Instead of supporting madrasas as per the Supreme Court’s judgement, they’re making our lives difficult,” said Maulana Farhan Khan, a madrasa administrator in Bareilly. “It’s like they’re trying to push us out without using the law.”
There are more than 23,500 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, of which 16,513 are recognised and 560 receive government aid. About 800 remain unrecognised but functional. Despite this large presence, madrasa leaders say that government policy has been increasingly antagonistic.
“They’re treating us like criminals, not educators,” said Aslam Usmani, a senior Urdu teacher in a Lucknow madrasa. “We teach poor children who can’t afford private school fees. Is that a crime in today’s India?”
He added, “This government only wants to control the narrative. If a madrasa doesn’t follow their exact orders, they brand it as a ‘hub of extremism’ or ‘outdated’. This is nothing but character assassination of our entire community.”
Political analysts have warned that the government’s stance on madrasas may be more about ideology than education. “What we are seeing is not reform, but a Hindutva-driven project to erase minority institutions,” said Prof Zubair Ahmad, a scholar of religious education. “By forcing madrasas to follow government diktats and denying them autonomy, the BJP is attacking the educational and cultural backbone of Indian Muslims.”
According to him, this is part of a broader campaign. “From bulldozing Muslim homes to targeting halal certification and now pushing madrasas into submission — the pattern is too consistent to ignore.”
While the state government maintains that it is working to modernise madrasa education, on the ground, many institutions are retreating from official affiliation to protect their independence and avoid constant pressure.
The fear among madrasa operators is clear: surrendering recognition is not their first choice, but in the current climate, it might be their only way to survive with dignity.
“Madrasas have been part of India’s educational fabric for centuries,” said Maulana Shahid Raza from Kanpur. “We have educated lakhs of students who have gone on to serve society in every field. Why is it that only Muslim institutions are seen with suspicion?”
For now, with dozens of madrasas ready to give up recognition and more expected to follow, the Yogi government’s actions continue to draw sharp criticism from within the Muslim community and beyond. And the question that looms large is: is this reform, or an attempt to erase a community’s legacy?
