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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Kerala CM confident of big victory with more seats in 2026 Assembly polls in state
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday expressed confidence of a big LDF win in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, claiming that the Left Front will get more seats this time round.
Vijayan's confident assertion came during a press conference here in response to reporters' queries regarding the LDF claim that it will win 110 seats this time. It had won 99 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections.
"We have reason to be confident. We expect the people to again vote the LDF to power, with more seats than last time," he contended.
The CM said the circumstances behind the Left Front's loss in the recent civic polls were different and would not affect the outcome of the Assembly elections.
He said that while voting in the Assembly polls, people would not just take into account their experiences during the last one or five years of Left rule, but the last 10 years of LDF administration and will compare it with the situation that was prevalent before that.
"That comparison will significantly influence their decision as the state has achieved a lot in the last 10 years of Left rule," Vijayan claimed.
Giving details of the achievements under the Left rule, he said that it was during the LDF administration that Kerala got the distinction of being the state with the least corruption when the same was rampant across the country.
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This was achieved due to the policies adopted by the LDF government, he contended.
"Similar astonishing changes have been witnessed in various sectors, including education and health, in the state. So, the people will take a decision based on their collective experience during the last 10 years and not as per the propaganda of the opposition," the CM asserted.
When asked whether the LDF's claims of winning 110 seats were based on any survey like that carried out for the Congress-led UDF by poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu, Vijayan said, "We don't have any Kanugolu. The people are our Kanugolu."
The people will not be swayed by such surveys and will take a decision based on their experiences, he reiterated.
Earlier in the day, state Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas claimed that the LDF would win 110 of the 140 assembly seats according to the deliberations during a special cabinet meeting held a day ago.
The interventions required to be made by each minister in the respective districts assigned to them were examined in the meeting, and a clear picture was arrived at on how to proceed further, Riyas told reporters in Kozhikode.
"As per the deliberations, we are confident of winning all of the 13 Assembly seats in Kozhikode district," he added. The Congress-led UDF opposition had recently claimed that it would win 100 of the 140 assembly seats in the upcoming polls.
