Vastanvi's fate to be sealed by the Shura Council

New Delhi, Feb 23: The battle lines have been drawn and tempers are running high and the issue gains profound meaning especially in the wake of the Godhra verdict that gave a clean chit to 63 people who were accused of burning down a coach in the Godhra riots.

While everybody awaits the Shura's (Islamic governing body ) decision on what the fate of Deoband's Vice Chancellor Ghulam Vastanvi is going to be. The situation is tense and can be easily termed the conflict of beliefs. Vastanvi was in the center of attention when he allegedly openly praised the development policies of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, a hardcore right wing supporter and a saffron champion.

The Shura will decide if Vastanvi needs to quit from the coveted post as head of the oldest madarasas in the country, the Darul Uloom. Vastanvi is often referred as a modernist with moderate views and has irked hardline clerics with radical ideologies. His contender, Maulana Arshad Madani, also a teacher at Darul Uloom is known for his stiff belief towards the Islamic cause.

The 18 member Shura will decide the fate of Vastanvi if he needs to be ousted. The meeting apart from sealing the fate of the popular leader will also nail if Islam is ready for some reforms that will change the way Islam is looked upon in the country. The students meanwhile seems like split into two groups those for and against Vastanvi's modernist views.

OneIndia News