The award goes to Shivraj Patil, (Dis)Honourable Home Minister, Government of India for saying this. (report reproduced in full)

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday said `madrasas,’ or Islamic religious seminaries, were not centres of terrorism. “We believe that Islamic madrasas are seats of social service. They are not the centre of terrorism,” he said while addressing a symposium here.

“Some violent incidents have taken place in the recent past — in Varanasi, Jama Masjid and in Delhi. Someone must have done that. They will definitely be punished. But for that it is wrong to blame the entire community. It is wrong and we will not allow that to happen,” Mr. Patil said.

Addressing the symposium on `Are madrasas viable seats of social service or breeding grounds of terrorism,’ the Minister said that madrasas, where knowledge of humanism is being imparted and human values are taught, could only be termed as “servants of humanity.”

“We are not ready to accept that they are the breeding ground of terrorism. We do not accept that. And keeping this in mind our Government will go ahead and work,” he said.

Referring to the recent Mumbai blasts in which about 200 people lost their lives, Mr. Patil said some vested interests were trying to break the social fabric, communal harmony and brotherhood in society, which the Government would not allow.

“Fortunately, a majority of people in our country as well as in our neighbouring countries want peace,” he said. Lauding the key role played by madrasas in imparting education to a vast section, The Government appreciated the significant contribution being made by Islamic seminaries in eradicating illiteracy and spreading the message of human values and unity in society.

However, he appealed to them to keep a vigil on their wards. If they “strayed away” from the path of religious education they should be brought back to the right path. “Those who can understand the meaning of religion can never go to fight with anyone, whatever be the reason. But those who cannot understand the true meaning of religion could stray away. The teachers should keep a vigil on that and bring back them to the right path,” he said.

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