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MUMBAI: Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, who was reported to have converted to Islam by Pakistani media, has denied these reports.
The Jalandhar-based singer told the Tribune newspaper, “Responding to a media query in Pakistan, I expressed my desire to visit Medina. Guru Nanak Dev had also visited Medina. Every Sikh wants to visit the places that were visited by Guru Nanak.”
Muslim Mirror had said that Hans Raj Hans confirmed his conversion while talking to media persons at Lahore Museum.
Hans was quoted as saying that he was proud to have converted to Islam under the the Muslim name of Mohammad Yousaf. However, as a singer he will still keep his name Hans Raj Hans.
Hans also reportedly expressed his wish to visit Madina Munawara (a Holy place of Muslims in Saudi Arabia) to perform religious rites.
The Punjabi singer was quoted as saying that Islam is the religion of love, brotherhood and peace and that conversion has brought him inner peace.
The rumours about Hans’ conversion came a days after famous Tamil composer Ilaiyaraja’s younger Yuvan Shankar Raja, converted to Islam.
Hans Raj Hans, who imbibed sufiana from his guru Puran Shahkoti, is related to Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi as his son is married to Mehndi’s daughter.
Hans also contested the 2009 parliamentary election from Jalandhar on the Akali Dal ticket.
