By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The protesting students of Darul Uloom Deoband put their agitation on hold after the seminary administration withdrew its Monday order to suspend nine of them and assured them to call a special meeting of Majlis-e-Shura within 2-3 days to consider their demand for dismissal of newly elected rector Maulana Mohammad Ghulam Vastanvi.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, Deputy Rector of Darul Uloom, said: “The situation has returned to normalcy at the seminary. Students called off dharna and resumed their academic activities. We are 100% satisfied with the present situation here.”
Students of Darul Uloom Deoband [TCN Photo]
Asked why they decided to suspend 9 students and then withdrew their decision he said: “The decision to suspend 9 students was taken at the high level committee headed by the Rector to suppress the uneasy environment of the seminary. But the decision was held back as some senior teachers appealed to the rector that this would further worsen the matter”.
On the allegation that he beat a student badly he said that it is totally baseless. “I along with a teacher went to the place where students were sitting on dharna. We were trying to convince them to give up the agitation because it is defaming the name of the world famous Islamic seminary. At that time the students of anti-Rector camp clashed with pro-Rector supporters, leading to injury of some students” he told TCN.
On when the meeting of Majlis-e-Shura will be held he said: “According to rule special meeting of Majlis-e-Shura can be called by Rector or members of Majlis-e-Shura on the condition that at least one-third of them are agreed on it. Though the date has not been fixed, the meeting is expected soon.”
Maulana Madrasi pointed fingers at outsiders for the whole drama.
Asked what measure he is going to take to solve the matter, the Maulana said: “Actually some outsiders are provoking students for this ugly steps but the administration is active to defeat their bad intention. As per now we have taken some time from the students and Majlis-e-Shura will take the final decision in this regard.”
On the other hand, however, the president of Jamiat-ut-Talaba (students union) Maulvi Saad Jamil Bijnauri who is leading the agitation said they have not called off the protest rather put it on hold. Talking to TCN, Bijnauri said: “We did not give up our agitation but put on hold. We have been promised that the meeting of the Majlis-e-Shura will be called within 2 days to reconsider the decision for appointment of Vastanvi as rector. So, we are waiting for that moment.”
Asked what they will do if their demand is not met, he said: “We are not going to agree on any decision less than removal of Vastanvi. In case our demand is not be fulfilled, we will resume our dharna” he said.
On why they are opposing Maulana Vastanvi he said: “Not only students but barring few, all teachers are against Vastanvi though for reasons they are not talking about this openly. The thinking of Vastanvi does not match with the tradition of Darul Uloom. In his first statement he said that he would change the tradition of Darul Uloom. He has been sitting in the lap of politicians therefore he praised Narendra Modi despite the fact that he is the murderer of thousands of Muslims. Vastanvi has felicitated a politician with an idol for his personal benefit. Tell me how we can tolerate such person as rector of the biggest Islamic seminary in Asia.”
However, several attempts by TCN to contact Vastanvi for his views failed.
In his comment Maulana Arshad Madani regretted the current situation at the seminary: “Things going on at the seminary are very painful that should not happen because it is defaming the respected name of Darul Uloom,” Maulana Madani told TCN.
“I cannot comment on the selection of Maulana Vastanvi as it has been done by Majlis-e-Shura. But Maulana Vastnvi should also be careful in his statement. I think the whole problem started after his praising words for Modi that was totally wrong and hurt the sentiments of Muslims,” he said.
Maulana Vastanvi has been facing opposition from the students soon after his appointment as rector on January 10, 2011. The situation went bad on Sunday evening after students halted educational activities at the seminary demanding removal of Vastanvi for his controversial statement on Modi. The clash between the students and the administration added the fuel to the anger of the students and they sat on dharna from Monday morning.
The things took ugly turn on Monday evening with the news came out that 9 of the agitating students were suspended. The students who were keeping aloof themselves from the agitation also joined it showing sympathy toward their colleagues. At that time some senior teachers namely Maulana Arshad Madani, Maulana Nematullah Azmi, Maulana Mufti Yosuf met Maulana Vastanvi and requested him to withdraw his suspension order to avoid any unwanted incident. Consequently, Vastanvi withdrew the order and assured them that the meeting of Majlis-e-Shura would be called soon.
After the meeting with Vastanvi, these teachers went to the place where students were sitting on dhrna and informed them about the decision of Vastanvi. They appealed to the agitating students to end the dharna and engage in educational activities. The students postponed the agitation late night on Monday with the condition that the special meeting of the Majlis-e-Shura must be called within 2-3 days.
The situation at the seminary is reported to be peaceful on Tuesday as students were seen attending classes as per their routine.