Maulana Yasoob Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, said, “If a Muslim goes to Maha Kumbh to increase his knowledge, what’s the harm in it? Islam is not so weak that a person of the faith will be in danger just by attending a fair or by visiting a place of worship.” On Barelvi’s apprehension of conversions, Abbas said, “If the foundation of someone’s faith is strong, no one can convert him. ” Taking a dig at Barelvi, Mohsin Raza, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee and a former minister of state for minority welfare, said, “You must have heard RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Ji’s statement that some people want to become leaders by creating controversies. Such people are found everywhere. If there are four brothers, their temperament will differ.” “I have been to Kumbh many times, as have many Muslims. Also, many community members are involved in the arrangements for the Maha Kumbh. So, demanding to keep them away cannot be a Sanatani ‘sanskar’.Our culture is known for harmony and brotherhood, so the statement to ban Muslims from Maha Kumbh can at best be someone’s personal view,” the former Uttar Pradesh minister said.On Barelvi’s claims on religious conversions, Raza said, “Those who have written to the chief minister were involved in illegal conversions.They must have got the information that the people they converted illegally will go to Maha Kumbh for ‘ghar vaapsi’.”Barelvi must have received such a report and that is why he is getting anxious. Whatever he is doing, he is doing to save himself.” Meanwhile, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahli, a senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and president of the Islamic Centre of India, said the centre will not issue any advisory on Muslims attending the Maha Kumbh.
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