Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Santana Chakma on Tuesday said that the statement of her party MLA Sambhu Lal Chakma on closure of Madrassa education in the State was essentially his personal view. She said her party BJP believes in the concept of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’ and this should be the case in relation to every caste and community.
The singer turned politician Sambhu Lal Chakma stirred a controversy after he raised the demand to end the Madrassa education system in the State citing a similar decision in neighbouring Assam. “These madrassas are producing extremist elements and the State government should impose a ban on them”, he said while speaking at the recently concluded Budget session of the State assembly.
Though BJP ministers and other MLAs did not support the demand, opposition CPI(M) members strongly protested. The CPI(M) State committee in a statement demanded a clarification from the State government over the whole issue.
State’s royal scion and Chairman of the TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, which is at present strongest indigenous political platform in Tripura, condemned Sambhu Lal Chakma for his statement. He termed the rhetoric as troublesome and passed an opinion that Mr. Chakma should submit proof, if he has any, against any Madrassa to the NIA.
The response of the royal scion was important as the erstwhile royal regime allowed expansion of Madrassa education especially in Muslim inhabited areas of the State. The Madrassa education system continued to receive support and recognition of successive State governments including incumbent BJP-led alliance government.
Muslims account for nearly 10% of total population and have a sizable presence in at least 13 of total 60 Assembly seats in Tripura.
Sambhu Lal Chakma, 35, who was elected from Chawmanu (Dhalai district) constituency in 2018 assembly elections, was not available for comment. However his own clan member and Ninister Santana Chakma gave a clarification when asked by a pressperdon.
