The former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, Wasim Rizvi, converted to Hinduism on Monday. He will follow the Tyagi community and his new name is Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.

The ceremony held at Dasna Devi temple where the vedic hymns were chanted as Rizvi quit Islam and entered Hinduism after a yagna. As part of ritual he offered milk on the Shiva Linga installed at Dasna Devi temple.

After the ceremony, Rizvi called Hinduism is as world’s purest religion. He said he chose the holy day of December 6 to convert to Hinduism as on this day, the Babari mosque was demolished in 1992.

Rizvi was in the eye of the storm after releasing a book title ‘Muhammad’ last month. Many clerics in Uttar Pradesh condemned the cover of the book that portrays a man with a semi-naked woman. They also accused Rizvi of making objectionable comments against Prophet Muhammad.

Some of the religious organisations, including the All-India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), served notices on him, while a few approached the UP government seeking an FIR in the matter.