Terrorists take shelter there: Dilip Ghosh after Bengal orders 252 madrasa shut

Dilip Ghosh said West Bengal will not allow madrasas to operate without valid permission. His remarks, after closure notices to 252 institutions, have sharpened focus on regulation and scrutiny.The minister's comments come as authorities examine the status and functioning of madrasas across West Bengal. (File Photo: ITG)Kolkata,UPDATED: Sep 14, 2026 11:17 ISTWest Bengal's Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development Dilip Ghosh on Monday said the state government would not allow madrasas operating without valid government permission, amid a review of Islamic educational institutions across the state.He said institutions that wish to function must obtain the necessary approvals and comply with government rules.Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, “Anything illegal will not be tolerated. Operations cannot continue where government permission has not been granted. If they wish to operate, they must obtain permission from the government. Only those with valid permission will be allowed to function.”His remarks came after the West Bengal government issued closure notices to 252 madrasas as part of a review of Islamic educational institutions in the state. DILIP GHOSH SAYS MADRASA ISSUE HAS PERSISTED FOR 20 YEARSGhosh said concerns surrounding madrasas had been raised for years and claimed that several leaders had previously expressed concerns about their functioning.“There are suspicions surrounding various aspects of madrasas. This is not a new issue; it has persisted for the last 20 years,” he said. “Many leaders have repeatedly expressed concern about this. However, no one has provided a solution. We will resolve this issue,” Ghosh added.Ghosh also made broader claims about the involvement of madrasa teachers in terrorist attacks in West Bengal and claimed that terrorists entering the state from Bangladesh had used madrasas as shelters.However, these claims were not accompanied by specific details or evidence in his remarks. Any such allegations would require verification from law enforcement agencies and official investigations.The minister's comments come as authorities examine the status and functioning of madrasas across West Bengal, with the closure notices bringing renewed attention to the regulation of such institutions.SUVENDU ADHIKARI HIGHLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTSMeanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday highlighted several major projects in the state, saying significant progress had been made over the past four months.Adhikari cited a number of investments and infrastructure initiatives, including a project worth Rs 15,000 crore and a Rs 600 crore Amul facility.“In the last four months, we have seen significant projects; for instance, there was a major commitment of Rs 700 crore for a project in Gangoni. A massive project worth Rs 15,000 crore has also commenced,” Adhikari said.He also highlighted the development of a robotic firefighting system designed to operate in locations where conventional fire tenders may not be able to reach.“We are seeing progress on projects like the robotic fire-fighting system, which can operate where large fire trucks cannot,” the Chief Minister said.The developments come as the West Bengal government faces scrutiny over the functioning and regulation of educational institutions while also highlighting new investments and infrastructure projects across the state.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Sep 14, 2026 11:17 IST