Fact-check: Did Billionaire Asif Aziz really donate ₹5000 Crore to Ayodhya Mosque?
London: In recent days, unconfirmed reports have surfaced on various social media platforms suggesting that Asif Aziz, the London-based billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Criterion Capital, has made a substantial contribution of ₹5000 crore towards the construction of the upcoming mosque in Ayodhya. However, a thorough fact-check reveals that these claims remain unverified and lack official confirmation.
Asif Aziz, renowned for his transformative role in shaping London's skyline with iconic landmarks like the London Trocadero, Pavilion, and Criterion Building, has not made any public statements addressing these rumors.
Despite the widespread circulation of these reports, it is crucial to note that there has been no official statement from Asif Aziz or any representative confirming the alleged ₹5000 crore contribution to the Ayodhya mosque. The absence of an official confirmation underscores the need for caution and emphasizes the importance of verifying such information from reliable sources.
As of now, there is no credible evidence supporting the claim of Asif Aziz's donation to the Ayodhya mosque. The lack of official confirmation suggests that the reports may be speculative or potentially inaccurate.
It's important to acknowledge that rumors concerning high-profile individuals are not uncommon in the media. In this case, until an official announcement is made by Asif Aziz or his representatives, the reported ₹5000 crore donation remains unverified and should be treated with caution.
Asif Aziz was earlier in headlines in 2023 regarding his plan to conversion of London's entertainment quarter The Trocadero into a mosque. The area was also known for its concentration of bars, nightclubs, gay venues and strip joints.
However, the decision to build the mosque had also sparked a debate, with critics questioning its "sleazy" location.
Nonetheless, Asif Aziz, originally from Malawi, remains steadfast in his plans and is spearheading the project through his charitable foundation, the Aziz Foundation.
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Rupee plunges 28 paise to settle at 93.44 against US dollar
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee declined 28 paise to close at 93.44 against the US dollar on Tuesday, weighed down by a steady American currency and volatile crude oil prices amid uncertainties over the progress of West Asia peace negotiations.
Positive domestic equity markets failed to boost local currency, which also had some impact of the Reserve Bank's latest move to ease curbs on speculative bets in non-deliverable forward markets, forex analysts said.
The Reserve Bank on Monday partially withdrew directives taken on April 1 to curb excessive speculation in the rupee. The banking regulator had capped the net open positions in non-deliverable forward markets at USD 100 million, mandating banks to comply by April 10.
Under revised directives, authorised dealers or banks can resume offering non-deliverable derivative contracts involving INR to resident or non-resident users, but must comply with certain restrictions on related-party transactions. Also, the USD 100-million cap in net open position is still effective.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 93.25 and fell to an intra-day low of 93.63 before ending the session 28 paise lower at 93.44 against the greenback.
On Monday, the rupee settled with a loss of 25 paise at 93.16 against the US dollar. The currency had gained 47 paise in the preceding two sessions.
Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said the rupee fell on uncertainty over US-Iran talks and a surge in crude oil prices. A strong dollar also pressured the rupee; however, positive global markets cushioned the downside.
"Traders may take cues from retail sales and ADP employment change data from the US. USD-INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of Rs 93.30 to Rs 93.90," Choudhary said.
Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said the rupee traded weaker as recent RBI adjustments and partial rollback of earlier currency-support measures added pressure on the local unit.
"At the same time, the dollar remains steady while crude and gold are relatively stable, with markets closely watching the outcome of US-Iran ceasefire developments expected tomorrow. The rupee is likely to remain highly event-driven, with direction dependent on geopolitical clarity and RBI stance," Trivedi said.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.19 per cent to 98.09.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.70 per cent down at USD 94.81 per barrel in futures trade.
Analysts attributed the volatility in crude prices to persistent worries over disruptions of supplies of oil from the Strait of Hormuz. Also, the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran is scheduled to expire on Wednesday.
In a latest development, Iran's chief negotiator on Tuesday said Tehran would not negotiate in the face of threats, while US President Donald Trump hinted that he was in no rush to end the conflict with Iran.
In the domestic equity markets the 30-share Sensex rose 753.03 points, or 0.96 per cent, to settle at 79,273.33, while the Nifty rose 211.75 points, or 0.87 per cent, to 24,576.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth about Rs 1,918.99 crore on Tuesday, according to the exchange data.
