Deoband:
His remarks against Narendra Modi nearly cost him his job - but Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi will for now remain the top man at Asia's largest Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.
The governing council or Majlis-e-Shura met today in Deoband and said it has rejected Vastanvi's resignation.
"I'm still the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Darul Uloom," said a smiling Vastanvi, emerging from the Governing Council meeting which was attended by 14 of the 18 members.
However, experts say that the writing is on the wall for Mr Vastanvi. To avoid a controversial exit, the council seems to be paving the way for a gentler removal. It has appointed an 'Acting VC' who will take over the position if Vastanvi's resignation is accepted. That will be known after a three-member committee studies the allegations against him.
''Nomani has been appointed so that if my resignation is accepted, the transition of power is smooth,'' said Vastanvi.
Vastanvi, who is from Gujarat and has an MBA, was elected VC on January 10. Two weeks later, his remarks on Chief Minister Narendra Modi stirred up a giant storm.
Mr Vastanvi is reported to have told a newspaper that Muslims in Gujarat were prospering financially and that it was time for the community to move past the communal riots of the state in 2002.
As students protested at the seminary, Vastanvi offered his resignation. But as support built for him, on Facebook and on the ground, he said later that he would wait for the Governing Council to decide whether he should quit.
Mr Vastanvi has said that his remarks on Mr Modi were misquoted. He stands by his comments that the Muslim community is benefitting from the development taking place in Gujarat, but says that he never gave a 'clean chit' to Modi.