Ex-Shia Waqf Board chief Rizvi becomes Jitendra, pledges life for service of Hinduism
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Lucknow: Pledging to live the rest of the life to the service of Hinduism, former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board Wasim Rizvi converted to the Hindu religion today.
Rizvi, who considers December 6- the anniversary of the Babri masjid a holy day, said he chose this holy day deliberately to embrace the world's purest religion.
As part of converting rituals, he offered milk on the Shiva Linga installed at Dasna Devi temple, and chanted Vedic hymns in the initiation. He will be associated with the Tyagi community. His new name will be Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.
Rizvi has been caught up in controversies for his provocative tongues targeting the Muslim community and its leaders several times in the past. Last month, he released a book titled 'Mohammed' which invited condemnation widely from the Muslim community for portraying a man with half nude women on the cover.
Muslim religious organisations, including the All-India Shia Personal Law Board, called on the UP government to take action against Rizvi on the charge of making objectionable comments against Prophet Muhammad.
Among the people who sought action against Rizvi were clerics from both Shia, and Sunni sects. Wasim Rizvi later issued a statement, saying he was receiving life threats for writing the book and challenging 26 verses from the Quran.
