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Majlis-e-Shura votes Vastanvi out as Deoband seminary vice chancellor

Maulana had landed in trouble by praising Gujarat and Modi’s development policies after becoming head of Darul Uloom Deoband

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Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, who had created history by becoming the first Gujarati to occupy the vice chancellor’s chair at Darul Uloom Deoband, was unceremoniously removed from his post on Sunday.

Vastanvi had landed in trouble by praising Gujarat and Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s development policies soon after becoming the V-C of the Islamic seminary in January.

His fate was sealed after the Majlis-e-Shura, the governing council of Deoband, voted against him.

Of the 13 votes cast at the Shura meeting, nine went against Vastanvi.
“Maulana Vastanvi has been removed from the post of vice chancellor by Majlis-e-Shura of the seminary,” Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani, who was appointed as the acting vice chancellor on February 23, said at Deoband.

As per an earlier decision, Nomani will be the new chief of the Islamic seminary.

 While opposing the report of the three-member committee set up to probe charges against him, 60-year-old Vastanvi demanded setting up of a new committee, but his plea was turned down by the Shura which decided in favour of a decision through voting.

“This is injustice and a conspiracy against me,” Vastanvi said after being removed as Deoband V-C.

He alleged that the report presented at the meeting of Shura was incomplete and he was removed from the post for opposing it. 

He said that while detailed description of allegations against him had been mentioned in the report, it was mum on the issue of uproar by the students after his appointment and people responsible for that.

Vastanvi said he had asked the Shura to get the report completed, but it refused to do so. Vastanvi said he will continue to be a member of the Shura.

The news of Vastanvi’s removal shocked his family members in his native village Vastan. 

“We have come to know that Maulana saab is no longer Mohatmim of Darul Uloom. The decision is unfortunate.    

Vastanvi wanted to upgrade the old education system in Islamic schools, but nobody was supporting him. It is a loss to Darul Uloom, not to Vastanvi," said his brother Ibrahim Vastanvi.

Originally from Vastan village in Mangrol taluka of Surat district, Vastanvi is based in Akkalkuva in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra.

He is chairman of nine colleges and two primary schools and director of 14 hospitals and runs all his activities under the banner of Jamia Islamia Ishatul Uloom.

Vastanvi is also member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maharashtra Waqf Board and Darul-ul-loom Deoband.Despite being a maulana, Vastanvi is a tech- savvy person who believes in implementing new technology and modern subjects at Islamic schools and colleges. 

Vastanvi is an MBA.After becoming Deoband V-C, Vastanvi wanted to upgrade the Islamic educational system but his ideology was reportedly not accepted by many hardliners.

He was elected V-C of Deoband on January 10 following the death of his predecessor Maulana Marghoobur Rahman.

After becoming Deoband V-C, Vastanvi had said: "Muslims in Gujarat have progressed during Modi's rule. Muslims have benefited from the state's development model and are enjoying its fruits. Gujarat and its Muslims have forgotten the wounds of 2002 riots and are progressing."

These statements raised a storm, with many in Deoband opposing him and seeking his ouster.

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