A sinister pattern emerges as Hindutva forces zero in on minority-led higher education institutions
Abdul Bari Masoud | Clarion India
AFTER mosques and other religious sites, Muslim-run higher educational institutions have become the target of the Hindutva brigade. The systematic attack on minority-led universities is raising alarm among educators, civil society, and political observers, as a troubling pattern of repression unfolds.
In a dramatic midnight operation on February 22, the Special Task Force of the Assam Police, ostensibly designated for counterterrorism efforts, stormed the Guwahati home of Mahbubul Hoque, the founder Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), and arrested him on allegations of malpractice in the Class XII examinations.
On the same day, Rajasthan Police took Mohammad Atiq Ghauri, chairperson of Maulana Azad University in Jodhpur, into custody. The Azad University runs under the Marwar Muslim Educational & Welfare Society which was established in 1929. Besides the university, the society runs several schools and professional institutions.
This crackdown follows earlier actions against Glocal University (Saharanpur) and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University (Rampur), both located in the BJP-ruled state of Uttar Pradesh. Since 2019, Azam Khan, the founder of Jauhar University, has been languishing in Sitapur Jail, facing nearly 90 cases, some as absurd as goat and buffalo theft.
Glocal University Under the Cloud
The Lucknow Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in June last year temporarily confiscated 121 acres of Glocal University’s Saharanpur campus and buildings. The property was seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, from the Abdul Waheed Educational and Charitable Trust on suspicion of using the proceeds of illicit mining for development and land acquisition. The property has a ₹4,440 crore valuation.
The ED claims that the university earned over ₹500 crore from illegal mining. In addition to his brother and four sons being imprisoned in other cases, Mohammed Iqbal, the former MLC in charge of the trust, is currently missing and believed to be in Dubai.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who publicly asserts his government’s commitment to producing “doctors, engineers, and scientists” rather than “mullahs” or “maulvis,” paradoxically continues targeting modern educational institutions run by Muslims.
USTM: A Thorn in the BJP’s Side
USTM, a reputed private university, has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, one of the BJP’s most vocal hardliners. Since assuming office in 2021, Sarma has amplified his attacks on USTM and its founder, accusing Hoque of orchestrating “flood jihad” and even declaring that the university’s domed gate resembled a “Makkah-like structure,” a supposed sign of “jihad.”
His rhetoric escalated further when he alleged financial misconduct, fraudulent degree issuance, and other serious irregularities — all without providing any evidence.
“The head of USTM himself is a fraud. The entire system is fraudulent, and the institution has been issuing fake certificates,” Sarma claimed, even accusing Hoque of issuing a forged caste certificate.
The university administration swiftly rejected these allegations, emphasising that such baseless claims damage its reputation and cast a shadow over thousands of students, faculty, and researchers committed to academic excellence.
The Meghalaya government also came to USTM’s defence, challenging Sarma to provide proof for his allegations. Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam Sangma reaffirmed that USTM is a recognised institution, stating, “We take education seriously in Meghalaya. If anyone is making serious allegations, we urge them to present proof.”
Additionally, Meghalaya Chief Secretary DP Wahlang underscored that USTM is accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC), reinforcing the legitimacy of the institution. USTM’s impressive academic standing was further validated when it secured 52nd position in the prestigious “Nature Index” for research quality. Moreover, its diverse student body includes more than 80 employees and students from tribal and Hindu backgrounds.
Political Vendetta
Despite USTM’s academic achievements, Sarma’s relentless crusade against the university appears politically motivated. One source noted that Sarma’s criticism of the USTM founder has intensified since the medical college’s first batch of 150 students began studies this academic year.
His unsubstantiated accusations were further debunked by the latest UGC-NET scores, where over 50 USTM students cleared the exam, proving the institution’s merit.
USTM was founded in 2011 by the Education Research & Development Foundation (ERDF). Located on the scenic Assam-Meghalaya border, the university has grown into a centre of excellence with a student base exceeding 9,000. The ERDF network spans multiple educational institutions across the Northeast, fostering learning at various levels.
Hoque’s arrest was allegedly linked to exam malpractice at a school affiliated with his educational foundation. Reports suggest that 274 students from Kendriya Vidyalaya took the CBSE Class 12 Physics exam at Central Public School, Patharkandi, run by the USTM group. Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu accused the school of allowing students to cheat in the multiple-choice section, but critics argue that the entire episode reeks of political vendetta rather than legitimate legal action.
Eventually, the Gauhati High Court granted him bail in the case after he spent 15 days in jail.
The backlash against Hoque’s arrest has been swift and strong. Political leaders, civil society activists, and educators have condemned the Assam government’s actions. Former Congress MP Abdul Khaleque criticised Sarma’s continued attacks on Hoque, highlighting the suspicious nature of the midnight arrest.
“How could Sarma have the audacity to assert that Hoque will remain in jail? Shouldn’t a court of law decide his guilt or innocence? His remarks are intended to sway the judiciary and state police, which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Advocate Hafiz Rasheed Choudhry, president of Assam Civil Society.
A civil society group, Citizens for Fraternity, sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention. The letter, signed by prominent figures including former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, former Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah, and others, called the arrest “a clear act of vendetta.”
“This arrest of a respected, non-political citizen and his prolonged incarceration aim to demoralise progressive members of society and hinder efforts to establish modern secular institutions of higher learning,” the letter stated.
Prominent Muslim organisations have also voiced concern over the selective targeting of Muslim-run universities in BJP-ruled states.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Malik Motasim Khan highlighted the alarming trend, saying, “We have serious concerns over the recent spate of arrests and legal actions against Muslim-run educational institutions across India.
From the midnight arrest of USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque in Assam to the persecution of Maulana Azad University chairperson in Rajasthan and the relentless crackdown on Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh — all of this appears to be a systematic assault on Muslim-owned centres of higher education.”
This emerging pattern of state-sanctioned repression raises pressing questions about the future of minority education in India. With Muslim-run universities under siege, many wonder if this is part of a broader strategy to stifle intellectual progress and suppress minority communities.
The battle for educational autonomy is far from over, and institutions like USTM continue to stand resilient in the face of political adversity.
