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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PM Modi cuts short Saudi visit after terror attack in J-K: Govt sources
Jeddah, Apr 22 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi abruptly ended his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and decided to return to New Delhi on Tuesday night following a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, government sources said.
Modi, who held bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, skipped an official dinner hosted on Tuesday to address the crisis, they added.
He was originally scheduled to return to India on Wednesday night.
Modi, who arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon, delayed a scheduled meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince by at least two hours on Tuesday evening to assess the situation in Kashmir.
Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group, prompted an urgent internal meeting at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Jeddah, attended by Modi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and other senior officials.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Doval visited the Royal Palace earlier to brief the Saudi leadership on the sudden change in plans, sources said.
Modi's planned itinerary, which included a visit to a date factory in Jeddah on Wednesday to meet Indian workers, was cancelled.
Modi was set to depart Jeddah after spending less than 12 hours in the Saudi port city.
Sources said he is expected to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security in Delhi on Wednesday to address the escalating situation in Kashmir.
