Deoband clerics, BSP MP criticise Wasim Rizvi

Muzaffarnagar: Deoband-based clerics and Muslim leaders have reacted sharply over the conversion of former Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi to Hinduism at a Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad on Monday. “It is not surprising as Rizvi had already disassociated himself from Islam by doing things considered against the religion. Now, see how faithful he remains to Hinduism,” said the patron of Jamiat Dawatul Muslemeen Ishaq Gora.

Rizvi had courted controversy when his book ‘Mohammad’ criticised Islam.

Gora, however, added, “There is no coercion in Islam. Besides, we have a democracy where everyone has the right to live his life according to his own belief. But, no one is allowed to criticise any religion, and thus, action should be taken against such people.”

Ittihad Ulama-e-Hind national vice president Maulana Mufti Asad Qasmi said, “We do not consider him a Muslim, so we don’t have any objection if he adopts any religion."

Shia Personal Law Board national general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas said, “Rizvi, alias, Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi, was already expelled from Islam for his objectionable activities. Everyone in the country has the freedom to follow a religion of his choice, but this freedom does not allow anyone to malign any religion or religious books.”

BSP MP from Saharanpur Haji Fajlur Rahman, too, criticised Rizvi, saying: “He is only making an effort to shield himself from the ongoing CBI investigation into the corruption charged levelled against him during his tenure as Shia Waqf board chief.”