Ahead of lok Sabha Election, South Asia’s leading Sunni Islamic Seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband closes the door for political parties who have made a beeline at the seminary seeking political support in form an appeal.
In past couple of months, representatives of political parties’ including Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) visited Deoband and met senior clerics to talk about party policies. With recent meetings of seminary clerics with political figures in the seminary, the Deoband administration was annoyed with it. After which Seminary’s Rector, Mufti Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani had issued several guidelines to the clerics and administration.
"It had been directed to everyone in the Seminary that all the people on responsible posts will not be meeting with any representatives of the political parties and make appeal in their favor," said Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Seminary, Maulana Ashraf Usmani. In past week, AAP leader Manish Sisodia had meeting with senior Cleric of seminary while he was in Saharanpur to attend party’s program.
As per sources in the seminary, several leaders of SP and BSP had been visiting the seminary and meeting important people which had annoyed the Darul Uloom administration and compelled to issue guidelines. Usmani said all those visiting seminary for non-political purposes our doors are open for them as this is an educational institution which has no relation with political parties. While those coming with political ambitions should not come as we have nothing for them.
Although during Muzaffarnagar riots, Seminary lambasted state government and few political parties. But now during elections it wills to remain silent on the political issues. "Being an educational institution we do not want to get tagged with any political party. Even this time the seminary will not issue appeal to vote as people are not aware and they know whom to vote," said Usmani.