Indian state makes Independence Day celebrations compulsory in all madrassas

NEW DELHI, Aug. 14– India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh has
made Independence Day celebrations compulsory in all madrassas (religious
education centres of Muslims).

Officials said Saturday that the state government has asked all madrassas
across Uttar Pradesh to compulsorily hoist the national flag and ensure
that all students sing the national anthem on Independence Day on Aug. 15.
As per the government schedule, the tricolor will be hoisted at 8 a.m.
(local time) on Aug. 15, followed by the singing of the national anthem.
All the madrassas have been asked to pay tributes to the Indian freedom
fighters who had laid down their lives for the independence of the country
from the colonial British rulers prior to 1947, officials said. “To prove
their adherence to the government order, the madrassas have been asked to
videograph the celebratory events on Independence Day,” a senior official
said. Independence Day is observed every year in India on Aug. 15 as a
national holiday to mark the nation’s independence from Britain on the day
in 1947.On every Independence Day, the prime minister customarily raises
the flag and gives an address to the nation.-XINHUA