The inauguration of Ram Mandir was just not a celebration and ceremony for Hindus, but it was about the unity of all faiths

Now, a fatwa has been issued against the Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organization, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, days after he attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

He told ANI news agency that the fatwa was issued against him on Sunday, but he has been receiving threat calls since the evening of the Ram Mandir event.

Reacting to the fatwa against him, the Imam said, "Those who love me, love the nation - will support me. Those who hate me for attending the ceremony should perhaps go to Pakistan."

He also alleged that a conspiracy has hatched against him and a group of people are trying to create an "environment of hatred" against him.

The fatwa issued against the Imam labels him a 'Kaafir' and includes threats to his life. The fatwa was reportedly issued by Mufti Sabir Hussaini, who runs an institute named 'Mufti classes'.

Umer Ahmed Ilyasi told ANI that after receiving the invitation from the Temple Trust, he contemplated it for two days, after which he decided to go to Ayodhya. The cleric also said it was the biggest decision of his life and he went "for harmony and for the country".

"I was invited in the capacity of Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organization, and I was heartily welcomed there. After attending the ceremony, I said that our beliefs can be different, but our biggest religion is humanity," Ahmed Umer Ilyasi told India Today.

"They are giving death threats to me and my family, but I want to tell them clearly that India is not an Islamic nation where all these tactics will work. If they don't like the message of love and brotherhood I am spreading, they should go to Pakistan," he added.

He further said he would neither apologise nor resign for going to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and that he did not commit any crime. "I have given a message of love," added Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi.