The ongoing controversy in Darul Uloom over pro Narendra Modi remarks of its new vice-chancellor Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi seems to be a fallout of Jamiat-e-Ulema bid to venture into the seminary and get a hold on it.
Voices within the seminary have started surfacing against the Jamiat-e-Ulema which had ruled the seminary in the past.
People here now blame the Jamiat, led by Maulana Arshad Madni, for raking up the Vastanvi issue only to get back its hold on this prominent seminary.
In a meeting of Vastanvi supporters on Wednesday evening, Maulana Madni was blamed for the ongoing crisis in the seminary. All those present in the meeting openly charged the Jamiat with playing a game to retain power.
In fact, Maulana Madni was also contender to the post of VC till Majlis-e-Shoora, the highest governing body of Darul-Uloom, opted for Vastanvi, who got eight votes against four in favour of Maulana Madni. Maulana Abdul Khalik Madarsi, the third contender, got just one vote. Maulana Madni is brother of Maulana Asad Madni, former Sadar(President) of Jamiat–e-Ulema, who took over the reins of Darul-Uloom in the year 1982 following support from the then PM Indira Gandhi. He had than appointed Maulana Mururbur Rehman as the vice-chancellor of the seminary, who passed away last year, thereby calling for a new appointment.
The Jamiat had split into two after the demise of Maulana Asad Madni, one headed by Maulana Arshad Madni and the other by Maulana Usmaan, the then dy VC supported by Maulana Asad Madni`s son Mehmood Madni, who is now a Member of Rajya Sabha (RLD). Maulana Arshad Madni was head of the education wing at the time of his appointment as president for Jamiat`s one faction. In wake of their political credentials, the then vice-chancellor Marghoobur Rehman had asked the Madnis and Maulana Usman to choose either Darul Uloom or Jamiat. They had gone for the latter.
{{/usCountry}}The Jamiat had split into two after the demise of Maulana Asad Madni, one headed by Maulana Arshad Madni and the other by Maulana Usmaan, the then dy VC supported by Maulana Asad Madni`s son Mehmood Madni, who is now a Member of Rajya Sabha (RLD). Maulana Arshad Madni was head of the education wing at the time of his appointment as president for Jamiat`s one faction. In wake of their political credentials, the then vice-chancellor Marghoobur Rehman had asked the Madnis and Maulana Usman to choose either Darul Uloom or Jamiat. They had gone for the latter.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said that after the demise of Maulana Marghoobur Rehman, Maulana Arshad Madni group had become active as they saw a bright chance of getting the controls of the seminary in their hands. But instead, the Shoora opted Vastanvi, thereby annoying this Jamiat group.
Terming the tirade against Vastanvi the handiwork of Maulana Arshad group, Badar Kazmi, the Vice President of the Muslim Majlis in UP, said the hardliners did not approve of the progressive people’s association with Darul-Uloom.
“Being young and progressive Vastanvi emerged as a popular choice in the meeting of Shoora and he was the one who faced least opposition,” said Mufti Nizamuddin, a member of the Shoora showing surprise over this controversy on his appointment.
Maulana Vastanvi was appointed as the new VC in a meeting of Shoora on January 10th. Interestingly, dy vice-chancellor of the seminary Maulanan Abdul Khalik Madrasi has outrightly said no to any Jamiat politics inside the seminary. “We will not allow Jamiat politics to enter the seminary”, he has said.
When contacted, Maulana Madni refused to comment on the issues and allegations being levelled against him. “I will not say anything related to Vastanvi,” he told Hindustan Times over phone.