Photo of Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi, former vice chancellor of India's Darul Uloom, one of the world's most revered schools of Islamic learning. The board of the 150-year-old institution voted Sunday, July 24, 2011 to remove its reformist leader Vastanvi who irked many by praising a Hindu politician just months into his term. - File Photo

NEW DELHI, July 24: One of the world’s most revered schools of Islamic learning ousted its reformist leader on Sunday just months into his term, after he praised a Hindu nationalist politician loathed by many Muslims in India.

Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi had pledged to update the Darul Uloom seminary’s curriculum and check hard-line edicts when he became vice chancellor in January.

But within days he upset conservatives and sparked protests by praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s development policies and reportedly saying Muslims in the western state should move on from the 2002 communal riots that left hundreds dead.

The board of the 150-year-old institution in the northern town of Deoband voted on Sunday to replace 60-year-old Vastanvi, who is also an MBA, with Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani.

“Now, I am the vice chancellor of the seminary,” Maulana Nomani told Press Trust of India. The board had first debated a special committee’s report on Maulana Vastanvi’s conduct, prompting 14 board members to walk out, Maulana Nomani said.

Maulana Vastanvi objected that the report was incomplete. Nevertheless, the remaining board members voted 9-4 to remove him.

“This is injustice and a conspiracy against me,” Maulana Vastanvi reportedly said, but added that he would not seek to reverse the decision.—AP