The chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Priyank Kanoongo, has indicated that the commission has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government to address concerns regarding the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, situated in Saharanpur district, allegedly for ‘glorifying Gazwa-e-Hind through a fatwa’.
In an interview with the media, the NCPCR Chairperson stated that the NCPCR has summoned the Collector and Superintendent of Police from Saharanpur to Delhi to provide a report and clarification on the matter.
“In the area of Deoband in Saharanpur, there exists a Madrasa named Darul Uloom, which oversees the Madrasa education system in South Asia. They issued a fatwa glorifying Gazwa-e-Hind. We have notified the UP government to take appropriate action against them. The UP Government informed us that this fatwa was issued in 2008, advocating that whoever dies during Gazwa-e-Hind will be considered a martyr,” he remarked.
Kanoongo also asserted that the fatwa was issued on December 1, 2008, shortly after the 26/11 attacks. “It was issued on December 1, 2008, soon after the 26/11 attacks. We have summoned the Collector and SP from Saharanpur to Delhi to provide a report and clarification. Darul Uloom oversees a vast educational network globally. Children may engage in inappropriate activities influenced by Deoband,” he added.
Furthermore, he alleged that the madrasa funds Pakistan. “Maulanas associated with Darul Uloom receive significant funding from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind UK, an organization that also funds Pakistan… Are they attempting to depict Ajmal Kasab as a martyr in the eyes of children?” Priyank Kanoongo questioned.
Earlier in October 2023, following intervention by the NCPCR, the Islamic seminary was compelled to remove the controversial book Bahishti Zevar from its curriculum, which violated the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The book Bahishti Zevar by Maulana Ali Thanvi, which contained objectionable and illegal content regarding children, was withdrawn from the curriculum after the NCPCR contacted the district administration of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh for an inquiry into the matter in July of the previous year.