India, Oct. 16 -- The Assam government's decision to shut down state-run madrasas and Sanskrit schools in the state has met with vehement criticism from all quarters. The religious organisations and leaders from across the spectrum have expressed displeasure at the decision of the Education Minister of the state, Hemanta Biswa Sarma, to do away with state funding of religious institutions.

The decision for which a formal notification is to be announced in November 2020 is being justified with the assertion that the state exchequer should not be financing religious institutions. The BJP government proposes to extend and support modern education across every nook and corner of Assam. It claims that the funds will be diverted to strengtheni...