New Delhi: India celebrated 70 years of independence yesterday, an event marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Red Fort and celebrations across the country. But how was Independence Day celebrated in the states? In Uttar Pradesh, madrassas had to record their celebration, while in Tripura, DD and AIR refused to air the chief minister’s speech.

Uttar Pradesh

In madrassas across the state, the hoisting of the flag and the singing of the national anthem was recorded as proof in accordance to an order by chief minister Adityanath – which many saw as an effort towards the forced assimilation of the Muslim community.

Last week the state government had directed all state-aided madrassas to unfurl the tricolour and sing the national anthem, and submit a video recording of the celebration to minority welfare officers in all districts of the state. According to a Times of India report, Baldev Aulakh, minister of state for minority affairs, had even warned that action would be taken against the madrassas that defied the order.

While the circular claimed that the recording was to ensure the “best functions can be repeated in future,” many slammed the move saying that the madrassas were being targeted.