To decide Vastanvi’s fate, Deoband Shura begins under tight security

By Manzar Bilal,TwoCircles.net,

Deoband: To decide the fate of Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, the meeting of Majlis-e-Shura of Darul Uloom Deoband began a short while ago this morning under tight security in Deoband. The Shura will decide whether Maulana Vastanvi should continue on the post of rector of the seminary or he should be sacked.

According to sources at the seminary, the situation though peaceful but intense here. The problem may erupt whether Maulana Vastanvi remains rector or quits.

Given the sensitive matter, heavy security has been deployed in the city especially around the seminary to avoid any untoward incident.

Maulana Mohammad Ghulam Vastanvi was elected Rector of the biggest Islamic seminary on 10th Jan. 2011. But soon after his appointment the opposition began from several quarters and his praising words for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi just fueled the fire. On 23rd Jan. students held dharna demanding his ouster. Several attempts failed to calm the matter and finally Maulana Vastanvi publicly announced to quit the post if the Shura asks him to do so. And then the special meeting of Majlis-e-Shura was called to take final decision.

Out of 18 members of Majilis-e-Shura, 14 are attending the meeting while 4 are absent on health ground or for personal reasons.

List of members of Majlis-e-Shura

1. Maulana Mufti Manzoor Ahmed---Qazi Shar of Kanpur

2. Maulana Mohd Yaaqub—Amir-e-Shariat of Tamil Nadu and Patron of Madarsa Kashiful Huda, Tamil Nadu

3. Maulana Abdul Aziz---Patron of Majlis-e-Ilmi, Andhra Pradesh

4. Hafiz Mohd Siddiqui---Former Minister of UP and former Congress MP from Moradabad

5. Maulana Azhar Nomani—Deputy President of Jamit Ulema Hind (Mahmood group) and Rector of Madarsa Husainia, Ranchi

6. Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani---Shaikhul Hadith of Jamia Islamia Reori Talab, Banaras,

7. Maulana Badruddin Ajmal---President of AIUDF and MP from Dhubri, Assam

8. Maulana Nizamuddin—Amir-e-Shariat Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa and General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board

9. Maulana Ghulam Mohd Vastanvi—Rector of Darul Uloom, Deoband and patron of hundreds of Madarsas in Gujarat and Maharashtra

10. Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqi—General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema Hind and Patron of Darul Moballeghin, Lucknow

11. Maulana Syed Mohd Rabe Hasani Nadwi—President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Nazim of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema, Lucknow

12. Maulana Mohd Talha—Patron of Madarsa Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur

13. Maulana Syed Miyan Khalil Hussain—Rector of Madarsa Asgharia, Deoband

14. Maulana Mohd Ismail—MLA from Malegaon and Shaikhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Mohammadia

15. Maulana Mohd Ishtiyaq---Shaikhul Hadith of Madarsa Jamiul Uloom, Mozaffarpur

16. Haji Jameel Ahmed---Famous businessman of Kolkata

17. Maulana Malik Mohd Ibrahim---Patron of Madarsa Miftahul Uloom, Melvisharam, Tamil Nadu

18. Mufti Saeed Ahmed Palanpuri—Shaikhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Deoband