Minority institutions may soon get exemption from RTE

Minority education institutions may soon be exempt from the Right to Education in the country.

Disclosing this on Monday, All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijay Singh told a press conference, "The issue has already been discussed at the highest level and a formal decision to exempt minority institutions from the purview of Right to Education would be taken shortly."

Singh was speaking in response to medkia reports about objections raised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board against enforcement of RTE on educational institutions run by minority organisations.

Significantly, during his visit to Lucknow in November, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had given a categorical assurance to Darul-Uloom Nadwa-tul-Ulema rector Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi that he would get all minority institutions an exemption from the new law.

Nadwi , who also happens to be AIMPLB  president was understood to be unhappy over Gandhi's failure to keep his word.

Realising the sensitivity of the issue at a juncture when state assembly elections were just round the corner, Singh was apparently left with no choice but to give an assurance.