The Muslim clerics have opposed the NIOS decision saying it has no jurisdiction to take decisions on Madarsa curriculum.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed pointed out that there are two types of madrasas in India, one governed by the Madrasa Board and others run by the community on its own.
“This NIOS decision is not bound on community- sponsored Madrasas while the Madrasas governed by the Board are bound to implement this decision,” he said.
Another Muslim cleric, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, says NIOS decision was anti-Islam and against the principles on which Madarsas were set up. “Madarsas were set up with an aim to propagate Quran. “If NIOS wants that students in Madrasas learn Gita and Ramayana, it should also introduce Quran in the curriculum of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-funded Saraswati Shishu Mandirs,” he said.
Maulana Yasoob Abbas, who is also an executive member of Madrasa Sultan Al Madaris, said if anyone tried to impose something which is un-Islamic on madrasas, we will stage a protest against it.
Prominent academician Nadeem Hasnain, Head of Anthropology department in Lucknow University, said such decisions should come voluntarily. There is no harm in Muslims learning scriptures of other religions. But the problem starts when the government makes it mandatory.
The NIOS has planned to introduce the new curriculum in 100 madrasas initially and extend it to 500 madrasas in future.
