From Wasim Rizvi to Jitendra Narayan Singh Sengar A Controversial Transformation

Wasim Rizvi, the former president of the Shia Waqf Board, has garnered significant attention since leaving Islam and embracing Hinduism in 2021. Now, he has announced a new name and a shift in his caste identity, declaring himself a Thakur, transitioning from his previous identification as a Tyagi Brahmin. Rizvi, now known as Jitendra Narayan Singh Sengar, made this announcement while greeting the public during the Diwali festivities.

A Journey Marked by Controversy

Rizvi, who initially adopted the name Jitendra Narayan Tyagi upon converting, described his change as a “return home.” His actions have placed him at the center of various controversies, particularly since the rise of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. He gained notoriety for linking madrasa education to terrorism and for filing a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the removal of the Qutub Minar.

Backlash from the Muslim Community

Rizvi’s statements and actions have sparked widespread backlash from both the Shia and Sunni communities. Following his claims that certain educational institutions promote extremist ideologies, he faced significant opposition. Scholars from both sects issued fatwas against him, declaring that he had been expelled from Islam.

Rizvi’s conversion to Sanatan Dharma was marked by Vedic chanting and rituals conducted by Hindu Pandits, in the presence of Mahant Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati at the Dasna Devi Temple. Following the conversion, he proclaimed that Sanatan Dharma is “the most sacred religion in the world.”

Jitendra Narayan Singh Sengar’s journey from Wasim Rizvi symbolizes a profound personal transformation intertwined with public controversy. His statements and actions continue to provoke discussion and debate across communities in India.