The controversial former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, Wasim Rizvi, converted to Hinduism on Monday. Swami Yati Narsinghanand, the head priest of Ghaziabad's Dasna Devi temple, converted Rizvi to Hinduism.
According to Narsinghanand, Rizvi's new name after religious conversion will be Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.
Performing a ceremony to officially be inducted into Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), Rizvi offered milk on the Shiva Linga placed at Dasna Devi temple, reported Livehindustan.
Talking to top Indian media outlets, Rizvi remarked, "I was kicked out of Islam. Every Friday, the prize money on my head is increased. I've decided to embrace Sanatan Dharma today."
According to media reports, the ritual took place at 10.30 a.m. in the presence of Narsinghanand Saraswati, the chief priest of Dasna Devi temple. After a yagna, Rizvi quit Islam and converted
to Hinduism, chanting Vedic hymns.
Rizvi described the Sanatan Dharma as the world's purest religion after the ritual. He went on to say that he chose the holy day of December 6 to convert to Hinduism because it was on
this day in 1992 that the Babari mosque was demolished.
"As of today, I will work for Hinduism. Muslims never vote for a political party. They only voted to defeat Hindus," Rizvi said.
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The national president of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, said, "Wasim Rizvi sahab's choice to join Hindu Sanatan Dharma is welcome. Sant Mahasabha welcomes
him. No fanatic should dare to issue a fatwa against Wasim Rizvi Sahab because he is now a part of our Hindu Sanatan Dharma. The Centre and state governments should ensure his safety."
Rizvi allegedly received death threats after filing a petition in the Supreme Court to have several chapters from the Quran removed because he claimed they advocated violence. But the Supreme
Court dismissed his appeal.
He was also intimidated for publishing a book that supposedly presented Prophet Muhammad in a demeaning way. Many clerics in Uttar Pradesh have criticised the book's cover, which depicts
a man with a half-naked woman. They also accused Rizvi of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
Some religious organisations, such as the All-India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), served him with notices, while others contacted the Uttar Pradesh authorities for an FIR in the case.
Sunni Muslims, like Shia Muslims, were against the book.