Hyderabad: Maulana Salman Nadvi skips meeting after rap from Board

Hyderabad: All India Muslim Personal Law Board executive member Maulana Salman Nadvi boycotted the second day of the board meeting on Saturday.

Maulana Nadvi’s meeting with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to resolve the Ayodhya dispute had created a storm. A day before, he was questioned by board members about the meeting since it had distanced itself from the meeting.

On Saturday, he said his efforts would continue to resolve the issue peacefully and through dialogue with other groups. “A meeting is being planned next month with the Sadhus and other Hindu groups in Lucknow next month. I will go ahead. Approach could be different but intention is common, a solution to the dispute,” he said.

The controversy heated up on Saturday when Maulana Nadvi said a few persons ‘selectively’ targeted him over his attempt to resolve the dispute peacefully.

“Maulana Kamal Farooqui and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas were at the forefront in leading a verbal attack on me. I was not given any opportunity to present my stand at the meeting. I want a peaceful solution to the dispute. I will go ahead with my plans. The approach is different but intention is to resolve the issue,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

However, both Kamal Farooqui and Syed Qasim termed the allegations wrong. “It was a unanimous decision to question Maulana Nadvi and all wanted to know in what capacity he met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The meeting has damaged the reputation of the board. All are bound over by the rules of the board and should not break the rules. The sanctity of the board is damaged and suitable action should have to be initiated,” said Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas.

A committee was formed to inquire into the conduct of Maulana Nadvi with regard to the meeting. AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadwi, general secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani, secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and working committee member Maulana Arshad Madani were part of the committee.

Maulana Nadvi stroked another controversy targeting board spokesperson Maulana Khaleel-ur-Rahman Sajjad Noumani. Presenting a video clip, he said Maulana Noumani had said he had met a few RSS leaders and visited the camps. “Is the AIMPLB run by the RSS,” he asked and also demanded a probe into another statement of Maulana Naumani that Muslims in India would be massacred like their community members in Myanmar. Clarifying the massacre statement, Maulana Naumani said it was open fact and all across the country that everyone was speaking about weapons being distributed to right wing activists across the country.

Maulana Nadvi demanded AIMPLB be renamed as Shariat Application Board and efforts be made to educate the people about Islam. “My intention to set up an Islamic university at the disputed site and educate students of all religions about Islam,” he said.