Deoband distances itself from Anna Hazare's movement

NEW DELHI: The vice-chancellor of Darul uloom Deoband, the second largest Islamic seminary in the world has distanced himself and his institution from the Anna Hazare movement.

Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani said: "We are neither supporting nor opposing the movement. Corruption is a very serious issue in the country and any citizen across the world would feel bothered by it. But we do not have any stand whatsoever on the ongoing Janlokpal drama and Anna Hazare's hunger strike playing out at Ramlila Maidan. As a religious institution, Darul uloom Deoband is not supposed to get involved in these political matters."

Nomani had been quoted in some sections of the media as having professed his support for Anna's movement, something that he vehemently denies now. "I had said we do not have anything to do with it but that was misinterpreted."

He added that as the seminary was closed for the Ramzan month there had been no discussions either among its students or staff on the Anna Hazare issue.

"Students and staff have all gone home. Even I am not in Deoband but in Benares, so it is not possible to evolve any consensus stance on Anna at the moment," he says

Nomani's fence-sitting posture is a far cry from some of the other Muslim clerics who have strongly come out in support or have fiercely criticized the Janlokpal movement - among the latter was the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari who had advised Muslims to stay away from the fast as the war cries of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai are anti-Islam. He has since been lambasted by many of his own colleagues across the country.

Nomani steers clear of the controversy. "I have no first hand knowledge of the statement attributed to the Shahi Imam, so I would not like to give any opinion on it," he said.

Meanwhile, Dalit leader Udit Raj will take out rally against Anna Hazare's fast on Wednesday. He says dalits and minorities have been ignored in the corruption battle.

He plans to lead the rally from India Gate to Parliament.