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 falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
