Ex-chairman of UP Shia Waqf Board adopts Hinduism
LUCKNOW/GHAZIABAD: Former UP Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi converted to Hinduism during an event at Devi Temple in Dasna ,Ghaziabad, on Monday. Temple authorities said Rizvi will now be known as Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi after he embraced the Sanatan Dharma.
Rizvi offered milk on the Shiva Linga installed in the temple as part of the ritual, which was carried out with a hawan in the presence of head priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.
“Yati Narsinghanand gave me this name and I have received a new energy… I will go where I get love and humanity. I adopted the Sanatan Dharma as it is one of the oldest religions. Despite all the happenings, Hindus are more engaged in work and family matters and we wish to tell them that they should be ready to defend themselves. Maharaj (Yati Narsinghanand) and our entire team will bring this awakening,” Rizvi said at Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad.
Rizvi said: “I don’t want myself to be called a Muslim, especially when fatwas are issued against me and Swami Narsinghanand Saraswati.”
“I was already debarred from Islam and declared a non-Muslim by some maulanas for highlighting the true face of Islam in my book ‘Muhammed’. In such a situation, it was a matter of my own choice which religion I opt for. Hence I opted for the Sanatan Dharma and would now continue to spread the word of Hinduism,” he said.
Rizvi also claimed about getting frequent calls from Muslims, especially youths across the country, showing their interest in embracing Hinduism. “I am sure many more Muslims like me will do ‘ghar wapsi’ by opting Hinduism,” he added.
However, the conversion sparked a fresh controversy among UP clerics who slammed Rizvi, calling it a politically motivated stunt. “Wasim Rizvi may adopt any religion as he has nothing to do with Islam. He is no more a Muslim,” said Maulana Yasoob Abbas, general secretary, All-India Shia Muslim Personal Law Board (AISMPLB). The board has already approached police commissioner (Lucknow) to register an FIR against Rizvi.
However, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, Imam, Eidgah and member of All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), refused to make any comment saying it was a publicity stunt and “we don’t want to give him more publicity.”
Similarly, senior Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad, who had already lodged an FIR against Rizvi for authoring the book ‘Muhammed’, said Rizvi was no longer a Muslim as he committed “blasphemy against the Prophet and raised a question mark over Quran,” hence his conversion hardly mattered.
Earlier, Rizvi had issued a video statement saying he wanted his mortal remains to be cremated as per Hindu rituals. He also expressed desire that his mortal remains be handed over to his Hindu friend Narsinghanand Saraswati who would carry out his last rites as per Hindu religion.
Rizvi had stoked controversy after releasing a book titled ‘Muhammad’ last month while many clerics in Uttar Pradesh condemned the cover of the book that portrays a man with a semi-naked woman.
They also accused Rizvi of making objectionable comments against Prophet Muhammad. Some of the religious organisations, including the All-India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), served notices on him, while a few approached the UP government seeking an FIR in the matter.
The said book was released on November 4 at the temple in Ghaziabad but the issue snowballed on November 15 after Rizvi posted the cover page image and buying link of the book on his facebook page.
Apart from Shia Muslims,
Sunnis too opposed the book.
Wasim Rizvi later issued a statement, saying he was receiving life threats for writing the book and challenging 26 verses from the Quran.
“I have made a promise before lord Shiva that I will fight to protect humanity and I will never fear anyone who is against it. Besides, I will always work to protect the Sanatan Dharma,” said Rizvi.