In a letter sent to Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on October 26, Bhattacharjee, who heads the department of minorities and madrasa education, wrote: “The initiative is indeed commendable but I feel that the draft proposal should be discussed with all the state governments before giving final shape since education is included in the concurrent list of subjects of the Constitution.”

But Abdus Sattar, Minister of State for Minorities and Madrasa Education, was, however, even more critical. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sattar said: “In its spirit, the proposal flouts our federal structure. How could you prepare the draft proposal without consulting the state governments since education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution? It is an encroachment on the constitutional powers of the states.”

In his letter, the chief minister also gave suggestions like replacing the word ‘madarsa’ with ‘madrasah’ and naming the Board as “Central Board of Madrasah Education” instead of “Central Madarsa Board”.