Speaking to reporters at Vidhan Bhavan, Maurya alleged that madrassa students do not express patriotic slogans and linked their education to extremism. “Anyone who receives a madrassa education does not chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ nor sing ‘Vande Mataram’, and develops a terrorist-like mindset,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The remarks were strongly criticised by senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav.