‘Madrasas promote terrorism,’ says MP Minister Usha Thakur, stokes row

MP Culture Minister Usha Thakur said that the government funding of madrasas must be stopped. Thakur alleged that these madrasas nurture 'fundamentalists and terrorists'. The BJP leader was addressing a press meet in Indore ahead of the state bypolls. “Religion-based education is spreading hatred among all. Students of all religions should be given the same education. All the terrorists of the country have been raised in madrasas. Jammu and Kashmir was made a factory of terrorists,” Thakur said. She added, “Madrasas need to be linked to a 'proper education system'. This will connect students to 'nationalism and mainstream society'.” Later, Congress said that BJP was communalising campaign for bypolls with such statements. Byelections in the state are scheduled to take place on November 3.