West Bengal BJP govt to shut illegal madrasahs, minister warns of bulldozers
Synopsis
Days after being sworn in, West Bengal's new BJP government is signalling its priorities loudly: Minister Khudiram Tudu has twice in one week threatened to shut — and bulldoze — madrasahs operating without legal sanction. The rhetoric mirrors BJP-ruled UP and Gujarat, and arrives alongside a probe into allegedly fraudulent backward class certificates from the TMC era.
Key Takeaways
Khudiram Tudu , West Bengal's Minister for Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, on 16 May warned all illegally-run madrasahs will be identified and shut down.
Tudu threatened bulldozer action against establishments that continue operating after being declared illegal.
This is the second such warning this week; the first came on 12 May in East Burdwan district.
The new state cabinet is headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari , sworn in just days before these statements.
Tudu also alleged that backward class certificates were fraudulently obtained during the previous TMC regime and said benefits availed illegally will be stopped.
The minister said the government will follow the governance model of BJP-ruled Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh .
Khudiram Tudu, the West Bengal government's Minister in charge of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, on Saturday, 16 May reiterated the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state administration's intent to identify and close all madrasahs allegedly operating without legal sanction in the state. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Bankura district, Tudu warned that establishments continuing to function after being declared illegal could face demolition.
What the Minister Said
'We will close down all illegal madrasahs in the state. Those involved in these activities will be punished. In future too, the state administration will remain cautious to ensure that illegal madrasahs do not surface anywhere,' Tudu said.
He added that if such establishments continued operations even after being flagged as illegal, 'there will be a crackdown... they will be demolished using bulldozers.' He also stated that 'all illegal activities in the state will be stopped under this new administration.'
Second Warning This Week
This marks the second time within a week that Tudu has addressed the issue publicly. He had issued a comparable warning on Tuesday, 12 May — just three days after being sworn in — during a visit to East Burdwan district. The new state cabinet is headed by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Tudu confirmed he has already directed his departmental secretary to begin identifying illegally-run madrasahs across the state for immediate closure.
Gujarat and UP Model Cited
The minister stated that the current 'double-engine government' in West Bengal would function in a manner consistent with BJP-led administrations in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh — states that have previously carried out similar enforcement actions against unauthorised religious institutions.
Backward Class Certificates Under Scrutiny
Tudu, who also holds charge of the state's Backward Classes Welfare Department, alleged that during the preceding All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime, several individuals had reportedly procured backward class certificates illegally and availed benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
'Such persons will be identified and the facilities meant for backward classes that they had been enjoying illegally so far will be stopped,' he said.
What Comes Next
No specific timeline for the identification exercise or the first round of closures has been announced. With the new BJP government in West Bengal having assumed office only days ago, the madrasah crackdown is shaping up as one of the administration's early high-visibility policy signals — one that is certain to draw scrutiny from minority rights groups and opposition parties alike.
Point of View
And the madrasah crackdown, paired with the backward-class certificate audit, are early signals of the ideological template it intends to apply. The bulldozer reference is deliberate: it invokes the Yogi Adityanath imagery that resonated in UP and is now being road-tested in Bengal. What remains unaddressed is the legal framework — how 'illegal' will be defined, who conducts the audit, and what due process applies before demolition. Without that clarity, the announcement risks being a headline that outruns the governance capacity to execute it fairly.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What action is the West Bengal government taking against madrasahs?
The new BJP-led West Bengal government has announced a crackdown on madrasahs allegedly operating without legal authorisation. Minister Khudiram Tudu has directed his departmental secretary to identify all such establishments for immediate closure, and warned that non-compliant ones could face demolition.
Who is Khudiram Tudu?
Khudiram Tudu is the Minister in charge of Minority Affairs, Madrasah Education, and Backward Classes Welfare in the new West Bengal cabinet headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He was sworn in as minister in early May 2025.
Has any madrasah been closed yet?
As of 16 May, no specific closures have been announced. Tudu said he has directed his departmental secretary to begin the identification process, but no timeline for the first round of action has been made public.
What did the minister say about backward class certificates?
Tudu alleged that during the previous Trinamool Congress government, several individuals reportedly obtained backward class certificates illegally and availed benefits meant for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. He said such persons will be identified and their benefits stopped.
Which states did the minister cite as governance models?
Tudu said the West Bengal government would function in the same manner as BJP-led governments in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, states that have previously conducted enforcement actions against unauthorised religious or educational establishments.
