UP: The family of Waseem Rizvi, the former Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman who converted to Hinduism this week, has distanced from his decision to renounce Islam. The family said they were “not concerned” with his decision to convert to Hinduism.
Rizvi, who took a new name as Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi, converted to Hinduism under the guidance of Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati in Ghaziabad on Monday.
Rizvi’s brother Shanu told India Today TV, “Waseem is a common man for us, like any other person. He is nothing to our family and has no relation with us. We are not concerned with whatever decision Waseem has taken.”
This is not the first time that Rizvi’s family has distanced themselves from him. Earlier, when Rizvi had questioned some of the verses of the Quran, Shanu had said that he had no relation with the former Shia Waqf Board chief.
Shanu said that he lived in an ancestral house in Chowk, where Rizvi did not come or try to make contact with the rest of the family. “It has been more than seven months that I have spoken to him,” Shanu said.
Shanu said Rizvi had no business with him, their sister and mother. He said, “Rizvi has been speaking against Islam, which is highly objectionable and none of his family members stands with him. Even his wife and children don’t support him. No one is going to support him with this decision.”
“Our entire family does not want to have any relation with Waseem, now Jitendra. He also does not hold any right to the property as it was already divided and he has sold off his part. He was thrown out of society. So, he is free to move to any other society,” said Shanu.
A former Samajwadi Party leader, Rizvi embraced Hinduism on December 6, the 19th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.
(Report: Abhishek Mishra / India Today)