Madrasas must teach English and national anthem, says BJP's Madhavi Latha
Synopsis
Telangana BJP leader Madhavi Latha has demanded English education and compulsory singing of national songs in madrasas, while backing UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya's incendiary 'terrorist factories' characterisation. The remarks escalate the political temperature around madrasa reform — a debate that now sits at the intersection of minority rights, national identity, and electoral strategy.
Key Takeaways
Madhavi Latha , Telangana BJP leader, on 6 August called for compulsory English education and singing of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' in madrasas.
She backed UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya's reported description of madrasas as 'terrorist factories' .
Latha argued madrasa students lack English skills and are allegedly taught anti-national sentiment, claims critics are likely to dispute.
She also responded to Maulana Sajid Rashidi's remarks on Kanwariyas with a pointed counter-question about the Ganga.
Latha had contested the 2024 Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate, losing the election.
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and social activist Madhavi Latha on Thursday, 6 August called for compulsory English education and the mandatory singing of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' in madrasas across the country, arguing that the current system leaves students ill-equipped for modern life and, she claimed, fosters anti-national sentiment.
Key Demands
Latha stated that madrasa students are denied English education, which she said limits their ability to participate in the wider economy. 'Is injustice not being done to them? What will be the thought process of such a child?' she said. She called for English studies to be introduced alongside national symbols and patriotic practices.
'These children will have to be introduced to the world. The young children of these madrasas will have to awaken patriotism. In these madrasas, Vande Mataram and the national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) must be sung. Students in these madrasas should also be taught to chant, Jai Bolo Bharat Mata,' said the BJP leader.
Support for 'Terrorist Factories' Remark
Latha also expressed support for Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's reported characterisation of madrasas as 'terrorist factories' — a remark that has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim groups and opposition parties. She alleged, without citing evidence, that madrasa teaching promotes hostility toward non-Muslim communities. 'None of us have really seen in the true sense, to this day, what the Quran actually teaches or what Islam turns a child into. We have only heard words of hatred from these people, like 'Jihad' and turning people into terrorists, thrusting rifles into their hands, thrusting AK-47s,' she said.
She further claimed that madrasa students are taught, as she alleged, to view Hindu children as enemies rather than neighbours — a characterisation that critics are likely to contest as inflammatory and unsubstantiated.
Remarks on Maulana Sajid Rashidi
Responding to remarks attributed to Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Kanwariyas, Latha said she did not wish to debate the issue at length but posed a pointed counter-question: 'Who were the terrorists who ate chicken and threw the bones into the Ganga?' The remark appeared designed to redirect attention to a separate controversy involving the sacred river.
Background and Context
Latha unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Hyderabad constituency on a BJP ticket. Her remarks come amid a broader national debate over madrasa regulation, which has intensified following several state governments' moves to audit madrasa curricula and funding. The Uttar Pradesh government has been among the most active in pushing for reform, with courts also weighing in on the constitutional validity of state madrasa boards. Critics argue that calls to mandate national symbols in religious educational institutions raise questions about minority rights and educational autonomy under the Indian Constitution.
The debate over madrasa education reform is expected to remain a live political issue ahead of upcoming state elections.
Point of View
Where the party is looking to consolidate its Hindu voter base. But the framing conflates institutional critique with sweeping allegations about Islamic teaching, which risks undermining the legitimate policy debate about whether madrasa graduates receive market-ready education. The 'terrorist factories' endorsement, in particular, is the kind of language that courts have previously flagged as potentially prejudicial. The real question — whether madrasa students are being denied quality education and economic opportunity — deserves rigorous engagement, not rhetorical escalation.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Madhavi Latha say about madrasas?
BJP leader Madhavi Latha called for compulsory English education and the mandatory singing of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' in madrasas. She argued that madrasa students lack the skills to participate in the modern economy and, she claimed, are exposed to anti-national sentiment.
Did Madhavi Latha support the 'terrorist factories' remark about madrasas?
Yes. Latha expressed support for UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's reported characterisation of madrasas as 'terrorist factories.' The remark has drawn criticism from Muslim groups and opposition parties.
Who is Madhavi Latha?
Madhavi Latha is a Telangana BJP leader and social activist. She contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Hyderabad constituency on a BJP ticket but was unsuccessful.
What is the broader context of the madrasa reform debate in India?
Several state governments, particularly Uttar Pradesh, have moved to audit madrasa curricula and funding. Courts have also weighed in on the constitutional validity of state madrasa boards. Critics argue that mandating national symbols in religious educational institutions raises questions about minority rights under the Indian Constitution.
What did Madhavi Latha say about Maulana Sajid Rashidi?
Responding to remarks attributed to Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Kanwariyas, Latha said she did not wish to debate the matter at length but posed a counter-question about who she alleged threw chicken bones into the Ganga, referencing a separate controversy.
