Wasim Rizvi, former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board, has renounced Islam and converted to Hinduism. He has taken a new name Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi after accepting Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma).
The conversion ceremony took place in Ghaziabad in the presence of Yati Narasimhanand Giri Maharaj, the chief priest of the Dasna Devi temple, also known as Narasimhanand Saraswati, on Monday.
Political History of Wasim Rizvi
Wasim Rizvi was the chairman of the UP Shia Central Waqf Board, a position he held for over a decade and until last year.
The son of a second-class railway employee, Rizvi never completed college. He contested the local body elections in Lucknow in 2000 as a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP). He was elected councilor from the Kashmiri Mohalla ward of the old city of Lucknow. While in the SP, Rizvi was considered close to senior party leader Azam Khan.
In 2008, Rizvi became a member of the Shia Waqf Board. In this position, he developed sharp differences with influential Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad, who accused him of misappropriating funds.
In 2012, Rizvi was expelled from the SP for six years following a rift with Kalbe Jawad. This also led to the dissolution of the Shia Waqf Board. However, Rizvi got relief from the court and was later reinstated.
After the BJP came to power in 2017, Rizvi was seen in a warm relationship with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
From Wasim Rizvi to Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi
Converting to Hinduism, Rizvi associated himself with the Tyagi community. Wasim Rizvi will now be known as Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.
Reports say that Rizvi offered milk to the Shiva Linga installed at the Dasna Devi temple as part of rituals during his conversion from Islam to Hinduism. The ceremony took place at 10.30 am amidst Vedic chanting during the performance of a ‘yajna’ (sacrifice).
“It will take time for people to get used to my new name Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi, but it will happen with time,” Times of India quoted Wasim Rizvi as saying.
Sanatan Dharma is the world’s most sacred religion: Syed Wasim Rizvi
After his conversion to Hinduism, Wasim Rizvi referred to the belief system as Sanatan Dharma and described it as the purest religion in the world.
He said that he chose December 6 to convert to Hinduism because the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on this day in 1992.
Rizvi said, “I will work for Hinduism from today. Muslim vote never goes to any party. They voted only to defeat Hindus.”
Wasim Rizvi in controversy over ‘Muhammad’
Rizvi was caught in the crossfire after the publication of his book ‘Muhammad’ in November.
The cover of the book, which featured a man with a semi-naked woman, enraged several clerics in Uttar Pradesh.
The clerics also accused Rizvi of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.
Some religious organizations including the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) sent him a notice. Others approached the UP government requesting an FIR.
The book was released on 4th November at Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad in the presence of Narasimhanand Saraswati. However, the controversy started on November 15 when Rizvi posted the cover image of the book and the purchase link on his Facebook page.
The book was opposed by both Sunni and Shia Muslim organizations.
Controversial comments in the past
Rizvi, 50, is not new to controversies and has been in the news for his statements on issues like triple talaq and the Ayodhya dispute as well as promoting corruption cases and the enmity registered against him.
26 ‘verses’ of the Quran
Waseem Rizvi earned the ire of Muslim organizations and clerics after he challenged 26 ‘verses’ of the Quran and then claimed that he had written a ‘new Quran’.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to authorize the use of the ‘new Quran’ in all madrassas and Muslim institutions in India.
“I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include this new Quran in the education curriculum of various madrassas and Muslim educational institutions across the country. This revised version of the Quran is the correct Quran and will soon be available in the market for the people. . Buy,” Rizvi had said.
He also moved the Supreme Court, appealing for the removal of 26 verses of the Quran, saying they promote terrorism and jihad. The apex court had dismissed the petition saying it was “absolutely frivolous”.
Triple Talaq bill
When the triple talaq bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in 2017, while many questioned the law to make a civil offense a crime, Rizvi advocated a jail term of 10 years for the offenders, as against the existing three years.
Madrasa closed
In 2018, Rizvi wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi requesting that madrassas be abolished as they “became a commercial enterprise for mullahs and generated terrorists instead of ensuring employment for Muslims”.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2019, Rizvi requested that he shut down primary madrassas, alleging that the terrorist organization Islamic State was trying to keep Muslim children away from mainstream education and other religions. funding the institutions.
Places of worship act
In another letter to Prime Minister Modi last year, Rizvi demanded that the 1991 Places of Worship Act be repealed and a high-level committee is set up to “reclaim land from mosques built on ancient temples”.
He has also been quoted as saying that “giving birth to children like animals” is harmful to the country.