Deoband seminary chief Mohammed Vastanvi survives Modi row

Deoband : The newly-elected chief of an Islamic seminary here in Uttar Pradesh, Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi, who had stirred a controversy after his seemingly pro-Narendra Modi comments, will get to keep his job for now.

Vastanvi had reportedly patted that Gujarat Chief Minister for his developmental work as he said that Muslims were prospering in the Modi-ruled state, drawing criticism from community elders.

The decision to reject his resignation came a day after a special court in Ahmedabad held 31 people guilty of burning a train in Gujarat’s Godhra in 2002 killing 59 Hindu religious volunteers and triggering a backlash on Muslims that witnessed one of the worst communal riots in post-Independence India.

The riots, in which nearly 1200 people were killed in Gujarat, tainted the track record of Narendra Modi ? otherwise held as one of the best chief ministers of India who took the state to new heights of economic prosperity.

Vastanvi, sparked an outcry from community leaders last month, after he reportedly said that that majority of Muslims in Gujarat are happy and prospering and asked members of the community to leave behind riots and move on.

Vastanvi later retracted his remarks saying the latter was not forgiven for the 2002 riots and persecution of Muslims.

He said the media had misinterpreted and distorted his remarks on Modi and Gujarat and offered his resignation, issuing a public apology. He maintains that even though Muslims are benefiting from Gujarat?s development, Modi can not ?be forgiven?.

On Wednesday, the governing council or Majlis-e-Shura of the Darul Uloom Deoband rejected his resignation.

However, it also appointed an ?acting Vice Chancellor? who will take command if Vastanvi?s resignation is accepted later when a three-member committee completes a study of the allegations against him.