Owaisi Rebuts Maurya’s Madrasa Remarks Over Colonial History

Owaisi defended the constitutional and historical legitimacy of Islamic seminaries, pointing to their role in the Indian freedom struggle. He cited figures such as India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad, Munshi Premchand, and Raja Ram Mohan Roy as examples of individuals who received early education in such institutions. Invoking Article 30 of the Constitution, he underscored the right of minority communities to manage their own educational establishments.

Contrasting the historical contributions of madrasas with Maurya’s accusations, Owaisi noted that prominent networks like Darul Uloom Deoband were active centers of resistance against British colonial rule. He specifically contrasted the historical background of these institutions with the actions of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, stating that Godse was not a product of a madrasa. Owaisi characterized Maurya’s comments as shameful for someone holding a constitutional office, arguing that the fixation on madrasas stems from a lack of substantive political footing.