‘Even Pakistan is impressed’: Muslim cleric, who claimed Mahakumbh is being held on Waqf land, praises preparations

A prominent Muslim cleric, who had claimed that the Mahakumbh was being held on Waqf land, on Sunday issued a video praising the arrangements made for the gathering, with a focus on how a ‘neighbouring country’ was impressed.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of All India Muslim Jamaat, said that the grand event was bound to impress not just the people of the country but of the whole world.

Barelvi had made the claim about the Waqf land a week ago when he said that others should learn from the “large heartedness” of Muslims. He had also written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to stop the alleged mass conversions of Muslims which he claimed were to happen as part of a huge ‘ghar wapasi’ initiative. 

In response, without naming the cleric, Yogi Aidtyanath had said that every inch of land that had been taken away in the name of Waqf would be re-claimed.

In the new video, the Maulana said that even Pakistan, which is often critical of India, has been praising the Mahakumbh preparations, especially the beauty and the facilities available for the Mahakumbh which started at Prayagraj on Sunday. He claimed that such praise was being done on the Internet by the common people and the educated of Pakistan.

He said that Yogi Adityanath had made excellent arrangements for food, accommodation and bathing for the devotees. The grandeur and smooth management of this event was a result of farsighted planning and team work, he said in the 1.44 minute video.

He also described the event as not just one of a religious nature but one that represented Indian culture. And now, he said, that it would offer an example of India’s administrative and management skills, too. The whole world would see how India can manage grand festivals and religious events.

The Mahakumbh, to go on till February 26, is expected to be visited by 45 crore people.