Deoband head says Allah won’t forgive Modi

New Delhi, January 23: In a complete turnaround, Maulana Gulam Mohammed Vastanvi, newly-appointed vice-chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, has now criticised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots.

This comes a few days after Vastanvi significantly endorsed Gujarat chief minister’s development-led agenda in the state.

In an interview to a well-known newspaper, Vastanvi said he was misquoted earlier. “I cannot forgive Narendra Modi, Allah will not forgive Narendra Modi, the common man will not forgive Narendra Modi. No one can forgive Narendra Modi...We will take revenge on Modi. We will pray to Allah for this,” he said.

I cannot “even think of saying something that is against the dignity and traditions of Darul Uloom”, Vastanvi said, adding that if the community was hurt by his statement, “I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Making his stand clear, Vastanvi said he only asked to Muslims to move forward. Though, standing firm on his remarks on development in Gujarat, Darul Uloom vice-chancellor said, “I did not praise Modi but I spoke about the development of Gujarat. I praised the development of Gujarat, which is the result of the work (of) Centre and State Governments.”

Commenting on Muslim’s growth, Vastanvi said he wished the community becomes well-educated and the people empower themselves to avoid untoward incidents like the Gujarat riots.

The comments had come amidst heavy criticism from different sections of the Muslim bodies - Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a Muslim organisation of clerics and the largest organisation of madrasas in the country.

As per a report published in a leading newspaper on Wednesday, Vastanvi, who himself is a Gujarati from Surat, - without giving Modi a clean chit in relation with the 2002 riots – had said that it is time to move on.

Vastanvi had said that "all communities" are flourishing in the state without any discrimination against the minorities.

-Agencies