Muslims clerics opposes UP Govt. plan to introduce new dress code

| | Lucknow | in Lucknow

Even as the state government clarified that there was no proposal on a new dress code for students of madarsas, Muslim clerics opposed the move and alleged that it was a direct interference with Muslim religious educational institutions. 

Minister for Minority Affairs Chaudhary Lakshmi Naryan contradicted the statement of his Minister of state Mohsin Raza about the enforcement of new dress code.

Questioning the requirement for bringing a change in traditional attire worn by madrasas students, Maulana Sufiyan Nizami said, “Dress code for all madrasas and colleges running in this country is not decided by the government. It is decided by managing committee of that institution. So, why such discrimination against madrasas ?"  

Echoing similar sentiments Maulana Mohammed Haroon said, "It should be left to us to decide what is good for madrasas. In any case, hardly 1-2 percent of Muslim children study there. Government should not worry."   

Minister of state for Minority Affairs, Mohsin Raza had said that the state government has decided to make madrasas across the state 'more formal' by introducing a dress code for the students.

"Our aim is to bring madrasas at par with other educational institutions. Till now, students in madrasas have been wearing 'kurta-payjama'. A dress code will make it more formal. We will provide them with uniforms," Raza had said. "Our intentions are absolutely clear as we work with transparency and believe in sabka saath, sabka vikas", Raza said.

State unit chief of Jamait Ulema-e-Hind, Ashhad Rashidi said, "We will welcome it if it is good, but only after seeing what the changes are and with what intentions they are being brought." Rashidi runs a number of madrassas in Rampur, Moradabad and Bijnore.

Spokesperson for All India Shia Personal Law Board, Yasoob Abbas, however, questioned the need for bringing a change in traditional attire worn in madarsas.  "Who has objected to the traditional attire. It is acceptable by all. We are not in favour of the government forcing a new dress for students," Abbas said.

Earlier, the state government has introduced NCERT books in madrassas in a bid to bring the students at par with their counterparts in other schools and to modernise education in madarsas affiliated to State Madarsa Board.