Maulana Ghulam Vastanvi, newly elected chief of the Dar-Ul-Uloom Deoband, has appealed to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to come forward to take care of riot victims.
Maulana Ghulam Vastanvi, newly elected chief of the Dar-Ul-Uloom Deoband, has said that people have not forgotten wounds of 2002 communal riots in Gujarat and appealed to chief minister Narendra Modi to come forward to take care of riot victims. At the same time, the maulana hailed Modi for development and giving prominence to Muslims in the state.
Vastanvi hails from Surat and was recently elected Mohatmim (chief) of the Deoband, a world renowned seminary. The maulana, the first Gujarati to be elected to the post, holds an MBA degree and heads several educational institutes in Akkalkuva in Nandurbar district in Maharashtra.
"People still haven't forgotten the wounds they sustained during riots. Riots have blemished the government's image," Vaistanvi said to the media.
"Court should intervene and initiate process to give some relief to those affected in the riots. CM Modi should personally take care in this regard and bring lives of affected ones on back on track," he further said.
The religious leader also emphasised on proper rehabilitation of riot victims and said, "After 2002 riots, many things have changed, but more has to be done, especially rehabilitation of those who have experienced the trauma."
On the status of minorities in the state, he said, "The BJP and Modi have realised that Muslims can't be ignored and so they are trying to bridge the gap between the saffron party and Muslims. They have realised how Muslims are important for balanced development."
Giving example of the recently concluded civic elections, the Islamic scholar said, "BJP gave tickets to more than 100 Muslims in various elections held in the state. This shows how much CM and his party want Muslims to join them in their work."
He praised the development model of Gujarat and patted CM Modi for his good work. Vastanvi also admired the BJP government for the fact that no riots have taken place in the state after 2002. "It is time to move on and every community is a part of Gujarat's development. There is no discrimination as far as progress of the state is concerned," he said.
He added, "Gujarat is progressing well and the Muslims too should be part of this development. There are opportunities for them but to seize these, they need to get educated."
Vastanvi, a tech savvy cleric who is director of more than 10 schools and 14 colleges with headquarters in Akkalkuwa village in Nandurbar, was appointed new Mohatmim earlier this month. Vastanavi won the election to the post which was occupied by the previous maulana, Marghoob ur Rehman, for 30 years till his recent death.
Known for his extensive network of madrasas in western India and a member of the Maharashtra Waqf Board and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the maulana has bagged 2 awards, including the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award from the Maharashtra government.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}