President Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind Maulana Arshad Madani has termed Mr. Vinay Ktiyar’s accusations against Darul Uloom Deoband as nothing but a figment of his imagination and an “election gimmick”. He was reacting to reports about BJP leader Vinay Katiyar’s allegations against Darul Uloom Deoband that the institution is fostering terrorists. Maulana Madani felt that such a statement only exposes the “sick mentality” of Mr. Katiyar and is a proof of his “sheer ignorance”. He shot back at Mr. Katiyar, “Whether Col. Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand, Sameer Kulkarni etc. had ever been or are associated with Darul Uloom Deoband in any capacity such as student or faculty staff or administration.
Maulana Madani pointed out that it was Darul Uloom Deoband which was at the forefront of the Indian freedom movement. “The stalwarts of Darul Uloom Deoband underwent harshest of atrocities and were meted out the most inhumane treatment imaginable by the foreign rulers. But they stood rock solid and resolute in their cause,” he averred.
The Darul Uloom Deoband has, since its inception till date and will continue to be a beacon of peace, unity and brotherhood. “It is conspicuous from Mr. Vinay Katiyar’s remark that he (Katiyar) is absolutely ignorant of these glaring facts.” Such falsehood once again brings to light his anti-Islam and anti-Muslim attitude.
In a press statement, All India Milli Council (AIMC) also strongly condemned Mr. Katiyar’s false observations about Darul Uloom Deoband. General Secretary of AIMC Dr. Manzoor Alam said, “Mr. Vinay Katiyar is once again trying to vitiate the atmosphere to achieve his cheap political ends. I demand from the government to take immediate legal action against Mr. Katiyar. If such communal elements are permitted to go unchecked and scot-free then they will definitely lead to discord and anarchy in the country.”
Dr. Alam was of the view that the communal forces are out to spoil the secular fabric of our country.
The General Secretary Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mr. Shahid Siddiqui has strongly denounced Mr. Katiyar’s claims on Darul Uloom Deoband. In a press statement, Mr. Siddiqui noted, “Mr. Katiyar (by making such baseless allegations against Darul Uloom Deoband) is trying to vitiate the harmony and cordial atmosphere of the country.”
Mr. Siddiqui stressed, “As far as the role of Darul Uloom Deoband in the freedom struggle is concerned it is an open secret that it was the vanguard of all the independent movement.” As a matter of fact “Muslims of India do not need any certificate from any and sundry organisation(s)/individual(s) to prove their patriotism,” posited Mr. Siddiqui.
“No institution has ever so vehemently and strongly condemned terrorism as Darul Uloom Deoband. It has passed resolution after resolution condemning terrorism and has striven to propagate the Islamic message of peace,” emphasised Mr. Siddiqui.
He wondered, “Although the Government of India has officially admitted that Darul Uloom Deoband is not engaged in any kind of terrorism yet why some communal forces are targeting Darul Uloom Deoband.” Mr. Siddiqui alerted the Muslims to remain cautious of the conspiracies of the communal forces. He blamed Dr. Manmohan Singh government of “completely kneeling down in front of the Israeli government.”