Deoband VC retracts, says won't quit

The Maulana had offered to quit after his reported statements praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental work had irked the seminary whose leaders had sought his removal. The issue will come up for discussion at the Majlis-e-Shoora (advisory council) meeting.

He told reporters at Vadodara that though he had made up his mind to resign he had decided against it after receiving support from several quarters. “After my supporters approached me saying that after having clarified its no longer an issue, I have decided not to put my resignation,’’ he said.

He, however, denied that he had stated that Muslims should forget the 2002 riots and move on. He clarified that he had not given a clean chit to Modi. “I haven’t given him a clean chit so far as riots are concerned. Nobody can forget that,’’ he added.