Ahmedabad: Refusing to comment on the wrath he faced for praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Darul Uloom vice chancellor Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi on Thursday said he wants to stay away from politics.
"I do not want to go into politics, be it Uttar Pradesh politics or Gujarat politics. If you want to ask me about education or Uloom I would be glad to reply," he said when asked if he had become target of Muslim politics.
Vastanvi, who earned a reprieve as the seminary`s powerful Majlis-e-Shura (Governing Council) did not accept his resignation, received an overwhelming welcome at the Ahmedabad airport here, where he landed en route to his native place in Surat.
Hundreds of supporters came to have a glimpse of the scholar, who accidentally hurt his toe when the well-wishers rushed to greet him at the airport.
Vastanvi said he would accept whatever the decision of the three-member committee appointed by the Majlis-e-Shura to look into allegations against him and all other issues concerning the Darul Uloom.
The 60-year-old scholar, who has an MBA degree, was elected Vice-Chancellor of the seminary on January 10.
The moderate Maulana, who has a Facebook page in his name, had triggered a controversy soon after his appointment with his remarks praising Modi`s rule and his development policy.
He had reportedly said that Muslims should forget the communal riots of 2002 and move on and that the community did not face discrimination in Gujarat.
PTI
