UP: After reconversion of 200 Muslims into Hindus in Agra, next drive to be in Aligarh on Christmas

New Delhi, Dec 11: After Agra, it seems that now a similar campaign will take place in Aligarh on Christmas, December 25. Despite uproar in the Parliamnet over the alleged conversion of nearly 200 Muslims into Hindus in Uttar Pradesh's Agra district BJP's firebrand MP Yogi Adityanath said that he will go to Aligarh on December 25 for Purkhon ki ghar vapsi' (Coming home of the ancestors) ceremony.

"This is not conversion but homecoming. My program is in Aligarh and it will happen - those who want to return voluntarily will be welcome," Adityanath was quoted as saying in media reports despite BJP denying any role in the conversions.

Police had earlier filed an FIR against a

outfit, an RSS offshoot, over the alleged forced reconversion of about 100 people to Hinduism here on Monday.

The Sadar Bazaar Police, which filed the FIR, launched investigation into the case against Dharma Jagran Manch and its UP convener Kishore. About 100 people, mostly Muslim slum dwellers, were re-converted and "brought back" to the Hindu fold after a ritual that included tying of sacred threads on their wrists and putting vermilion mark on their foreheads in Devnagar locality.

The converts also participated in a yagya in which they offered ghee for the holy fire. Police registered cases under Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups) and Section 415 (using fraudulent means) of the IPC.

It has been alleged in the FIR that promises were held out by the organisers which included getting BPL cards and housing plots for those who embraced Hinduism. Meanwhile, several Muslim organisation under the banner of the All Party Muslim Action Committee staged a dharma and blocked traffic in Mantola area as police prevented a procession from being taken out.

A meeting held at the dharna spot was presided over by president of the Committee Waji Bilal Qureshi, who condemned the move, saying that in Islam there was no scope for a Muslim to change his religion. He said the action of RSS, Bajrang Dal and Dharma Jagran was unconstitutional, and there should be an inquiry. President of the Hindustani biradari Siraj Qureishi termed the attempt to convert poor Muslims as "unconstitutional".

Congress leader Manish Tewari termed the move as "disgusting" and a "serious crime". "Stern action should be taken against those responsible. If such incidents are happening in a secular country like India, government should take the people involved to task," he said.

Dismissing the charge of forceful conversion, BJP leader Kalraj Mishra said there cannot be any forceful conversion. "If anyone wants to change their religion wilfully, there are provisions in our Constitution for that. And if these conversions are wilful, there is no need to give it a political colour," he said.

Uproar continued in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with almost all opposition parties demanding the suspension of the question hour and a discussion on the Agra "conversions". As soon as the house met for the day, members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI-M trooped near the speaker's podium, and also raised slogans like "Modi sarkaar hosh mein aao" (Wake up, Modi government) and "Hindu-Muslim bhai-bhai".

(With inputs from agencies)

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