In view of Delhi elections on Saturday,  a section of the media played up the Darul rector’s statement. The ‘appeal’ invited sharp reactions from the protesting women and the community members who did not wait  to cross-check the  statement

Team Clarion

New Delhi/ Deoband – Issuing a formal statement, the world-renowned Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, Deoband, on Friday made it clear that  the rector (Mohatmim) Mufti Mohammad Qasim Nomani did not make any appeal to the women to end their ongoing  protests against CAA, NPR and NRC at Shaheen Bagh ( New Delhi)  and in other parts of the country.

A Darul Uloom spokesperson said Mufti Qasim’s private conversation was made public by some vested interests to create confusion in the community.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, spokesperson Mohammad Ashraf Usmani categorically stated that no appeal was issued by the rector for ending the ongoing protests.

He underlined that the views expressed by Mufti Qasim Nomani Sb during a meeting of peace committee convened by the district administration, were his conditional and personal views and should not be seen as the  views of the Darul Uloom.

The clarification also underscored  that the  Darul Uloom had already given its memorandum to the Union Government and the Chief Justice of India and believed that the nationwide movement against CAA and NRC was to protect the Indian Constitution and its spirit.

The press statement reiterated that Darul Uloom was not satisfied by the government’s statement in which it said that it had no plan till now to prepare a nationwide NRC.

“It is a very serious issue and it must not be taken lightly. We should continue our peaceful struggle by exercising our constitutional rights until the CAA is withdrawn and NRC gets cancelled forever,” the statement added.

In a video that has gone viral, the Mufti was seen sitting with Ulema and others while cops were standing behind him. He was heard  saying that many people were not convinced with the words ‘until’ and ‘yet’. But it showed that for now the government had promised to not implement NRC and it should be seen as an achievement.  The Mufti further said such issues were also in courts and if they were resolved,  there would then be no need to protest. Otherwise,  legal options always remained open to people. He did not  refer to the Shaheen Bagh  protest in his address in the meeting of a peace committee held in Deoband on Thursday.

Nayab Mohatamim Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi  said, “I do agree with his views but it would not be appropriate to direct them (women) to completely end their protest. Instead, it would be easier to ask them to end their protest for now in view of the government’s response that no decision was taken yet to implement NRC in the whole country.”

In view of Delhi elections on Saturday,  a section of the media played up the Darul rector’s statement. The ‘appeal’ invited sharp reactions from the protesting women and the community members who did not wait  to cross-check the  statement.