RSS body’s advice to madarsas on Republic Day celebration boomerangs

Mangalore Today News Network

Lucknow, January 10, 2016:  RSS-affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch’s (MRM) appeal to all madarsa across the country to celebrate Republic Day by hoisting the national flag has boomeranged.

 

Madarsa managers, many of whom already celebrate these national festivals, have retorted by telling the RSS that they need no lessons in patriotism from the Sangh. Some of them have even reacted by questioning the RSS on why the organisation does not hoist tricolour at its headquarters on these days?

In its advisory to madarsa across the country, the MRM has appealed to all madarsa owners and managers to ensure hoisting of the tricolour on Republic Day and Independence Day to mark the national festivals. The RSS body is of the opinion that this will inculcate the spirit of nationalism and promote a culture where madarsas become a part of such nationalistic activities apart from other educational institutions.

Speaking on the issue, MRM convener Khursheed Agha on Sunday said, "There are allegations levelled against madarsa that they are a becoming hub of anti-national activities is common knowledge. This will put to rest all such allegations. To love our nation is a part of our faith. We are writing letters to madarsa, both run by Sunnis and Shias, so they celebrate the national festivals and prove our love towards our country. Many of the madarsa that we have spoken to have already agreed to this".

Another MRM convener Khwaja Roomi said, "I ask them, won’t a Hindu college teaching Sanskrit in Pakistan celebrate Pakistan’s national festival? Similarly if you are teaching Arabic... you must understand that Islam teaches one to love one’s country. So there should be no problem in singing national anthem. Many of those we spoke to have agreed to our suggestion".

But many of the madarsa owners and managers believe that this is only a stunt of the RSS. Since they say that 26th January and 15th August is already celebrated with fervour in majority of madarsa. In fact, hoisting of the National Flag and singing National Anthem has been a culture since independence in most of the madarsas. They assume, the latest letter by RSS affiliate MRM is to propagate distrust regarding Muslims and madarsa among people in general. In fact, some of the clerics raise questions on RSS itself for not hoisting the tricolour at its headquarters during national festivals.

Muslim cleric Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said, "Madarsa had a prominent role in India’s independence. The sacrifice of those associated with madarsa is known to all. And 26th January and 15th August is observed in almost all of them. Be it the hoisting of tricolour or the singing of National Anthem is a part of it. On the contrary other organisations where the tricolour has never been hoisted since independence should look inwards. I have nothing much to say on this except the fact that flag hoisting takes place without fail in all the madarsas and we do not need to take directions from anyone on this".

On the other hand, political parties seem to have been divided on the issue on ideological lines. While the ones opposing the advisory want the RSS to check itself on secular parameters before making any such suggestion, the ones in favour rubbish all questions raised on RSS calling it a social organisation.

"If they want to show that they are secular, which everybody knows they aren’t, they should change their mask. Since this alone can achieve their goal of making the Muslim youth a part of RSS. If not, they have no right to raise questions on others," Congress spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi said.

However, BJP supported the MRM initiative.

"I don’t think anybody should have a problem if asked to sing the National Anthem. So far as the question of RSS not hoisting the tricolour at its headquarters is concerned, it is a social organisation. And many social and political organisations have their own flags. But schools must be made a part of this so the students understand the importance of these national events and feel proud of their nation, " BJP spokesperson Harishchandra Srivastava said.
 
26th January is still about two weeks hence. However, it is clear with the debate that this letter from RSS has kick-started that this may actually snowball into a bigger controversy by Republic Day. Especially since many from among the madarsa owners and Muslim clerics feel that the letter from RSS’ Muslim Rashtriya Manch is unwarranted and is a conspiracy to point fingers at madarsas right before the Republic Day in order to sully their image