Conversion row: BJP MP Yogi Adityanath remains defiant, says 'Ghar Wapsi' must be allowed

Lucknow: While the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh has strictly denied permission to the RSS-backed Dharma Jagran Manch's controversial mass conversion programme in Aligarh, which is scheduled to be held on December 25 and clamped prohibitory orders in the city, firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath has said that the organisers should be allowed the proposed programme.

Talking to reporters, the Gorakhpur BJP MP said on Monday, “If a Hindu got converted in the past due to some reasons then ghar wapsi should be allowed.”

Adityanath had on Sunday said that there was nothing wrong if people re-convert to Hinduism if they are doing it willingly.

“There is nothing wrong in ‘ghar vapasi’ if one does it out of free will. Is it not a fact that large-scale conversion of Hindus into other religions had taken place before and after Independence due to allurement and pressure?” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Vaishali district.

The MP from Gorakhpur described those opposing ‘homecoming’ of non-Hindus as ‘pseudo-seculars’ and asked them to explain their stand “on the conversion of Hindus into other faiths in the Northeast”.

“Those opposing ‘homecoming’ of non-Hindus should first oppose conversion of Hindus into other faiths in the Northeast,” he demanded.

He, however, backed framing of an anti-conversion law in the country, emphasising his opposition against forcible conversion.

Th remarks from the BJP MP hold significance as the Uttar Pradesh government has refused to give permission to the RSS-backed Dharma Jagran Manch's controversial mass conversion programme and clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the city, reports said on Monday.

A senior UP police official was quoted as saying that the proposed mass conversion programme will not be allowed under "any circumstances". "Under no circumstances will we allow the proposed mass conversation programme slated for December 25,"Amit Agarwal, DIG of Aligarh Zone was quoted bas saying.

He further said, "The so-called 'Ghar Waapsi' programme organised by the Dharam Jagran Samiti can become a law and order issue for the state and irrespective of the finer details of this event it cannot be allowed to be held."

Agarwal further informed that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in the city. Taking note of the outfit's plan to "convert a large number of people" on December 25, the district authorities had last week issued a warning to those trying to disturb communal amity and asked citizens not to get provoked.

"Religious conversion is a matter of personal choice and the law permits it. However, if certain groups deliberately try to provoke communal sentiments by misusing this provision, then we will certainly not allow this to take place," District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash had said on Friday.

Leaders of the Aligarh-based outfit (DJM) have announced that they will conduct a mass conversion ceremony at a local college here on December 25.