Maulana Salman Nadvi sacked for talking to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

HYDERABAD: Maulana Salman Nadvi was ‘expelled’ from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday, the third day of the Board’s plenary meeting.

According to the Board, the decision was unanimous and not intended to target any particular group.

Nadvi, who was the executive member of the Board, had met Art of Living Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to discuss the Ayodhya dispute. After the meeting, Nadvi spoke about constructing an Islamic university at the disputed site and a mosque at some other place.

He said that he wanted a peaceful solution to the dispute and stood on his decision firmly.

Nadvi’s opinion created a storm with the AIMPLB working committee seeking an explanation from him. Nevertheless, Nadvi was determined to continue his work.

“Nadvi’s approach was against the Board’s decision. After the Board meeting, he went ahead and said that he would continue with his plans despite it being different from the Board’s decision. Over 400 strong members of the Board unanimously supported the decision to expel him as he himself did not want to be in the Board,” Board member Zafaryab Jilani said. “A four-member committee was constituted by the AIMPLB to inquire into Nadvi’s conduct,” he said.

Board is being dictatorial, says Nadvi
“The four-member committee took his statement on disengaging from the Board, his stand on Babri Masjid and expelled him,” AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani said.

Soon after was expelled, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker tweeted, “Maulana Salman Husaini Nadvi’s expulsion from the AIMPLB comes as a surprise, as several members of the Board have met with me & expressed their commitment to foster amity amongst Hindus & Muslims & to peacefully resolve this issue.”

The news was first broken by SQR Ilyas, executive member of the Board, in the afternoon whom Nadvi had accused of leading the attack against him. The charge was denied by Ilyas.

Reacting to the decision, Nadvi said that the Board is acting in a dictatorial way. 

“I was only putting my views forward. What is wrong if I wish to take a decision which supports unity and harmony of the country? After  the Board’s views were declared on Friday, I myself said that I don’t want to be part of such a Board,” Nadwi said.

The AIMPLB maintained that people can express their opinions in the Board meeting but not in the public.