The Dhami government in Uttarakhand is continuing its strict action against illegal madrasas. So far, 110 such madrasas have been sealed across the state. On Thursday, authorities shut down 16 illegal madrasas in Udham Singh Nagar district and two in Haridwar. Over the past month, the administration has been taking rapid action against these institutions, which were operating without government approval. The state government has taken a firm stance on this issue and is running a large-scale campaign against unauthorized madrasas. Dehradun has seen the highest number of crackdowns, with over 50 madrasas already sealed. On Thursday alone, four madrasas were shut in Rudrapur, eight in Kichha, three in Bajpur, one in Jaspur, and two in Haridwar. Earlier, similar action was taken in Dehradun and Pauri, where a total of 92 madrasas were sealed.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has made it clear that any attempts to alter the state’s cultural identity will not be tolerated. He emphasized that strict action will be taken against anyone misusing religion as a cover for illegal activities. Meanwhile, the government’s crackdown has sparked political debates. The BJP has strongly backed the ongoing action against illegal madrasas in the Kumaon region, just as it did in Garhwal. Party spokesperson Suresh Joshi stated that this move is essential to preserving the state’s demography and its identity as the “Devbhoomi” (Land of Gods). He stressed that no one would be allowed to exploit religious education at the cost of children’s future. He further added that the party is committed to protecting Uttarakhand’s cultural and demographic identity at all costs. The BJP is firmly against any attempts to change the state’s demographic structure under the guise of religious institutions. According to Joshi, people are now well aware of the illegal madrasas that were being run in violation of rules and regulations.
