UP Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi alleged that the panic reaction from the underworld and Muslim clerics over his stand against extremism being taught in madarsas has vindicated his charge and proved that something was seriously wrong in madarsa education in India.
``My letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against madarsas has shaken Islamic religious establishment. It seems that I have committed a crime as fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim too threatend to eliminate me. Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad is demanding my arrest and a campaign is underway on social media threatening to torch me alive,’’ said Rzivi in lucknow on Monday.
“Threat from Dawood Ibrahim has vindicated my stand that some madarsas had links with the don and he was extending moolah to these schools. I urge the government to set up an inquiry into the financial sources of such madarsas,’’ said Rizvi.
The Shia Waqf Board chief said that the state and Union governments should keep a watch on mushrooming of madarsas in India and the government must ban religious schools preaching extremism.
Defending his allegations, Rizvi said, “I only said in my letter that madarsas have become breeding ground for promoting extremism and Wahabi brand of Jehadi Islam. I never said that all madarsas were producing terrorists.”
“I stand by my demand that religious schools should impart modern education and be affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education,’’ stressed Rizvi.
On Maulana Kalbe Jawwad’s charges, Rizvi said, “Maulana has personal enmity with me since I as chairman of Shia Waqf Board took action against him for irregularities and illegal sale of Waqf properties.’’
He added, “At his behest six cases were registered against me during the previous Samajwadi Party regime and all have been decided by the courts. Three cases were lodged against me during the present BJP regime where in one case the police filed a final report and in two cases, I have challenged the charge sheet in Allahabad High Court.”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader and former chairman of Shia Waqf Board Abid Raza Khan hit out at Rizvi on claiming that he was making a bogus claim that he was threatened by aides of Dawood Ibrahim. This was to get publicity and security. He might have asked his supporters to make the call from Nepal,” Khan said.
He said that Rizvi was continuously giving statements against madarsas, Babri mosque and other Muslim issues to please BJP leaders and get security.