UP Govt. bans Conversion in Aligarh on Christmas Day

The proposed mass conversion in Aligarh on Christmas Day on December 25, has been banned by the district administration after the Uttar Pradesh government decided to crack the whip. The conversion was scheduled by the Sangh Parivar outfits Bajrang Dal and VHP. They called it ‘Ghar-Wapsi’ or ‘Homecoming’ event.

Mohit Agarwal, Aligarh range DIG, held a meeting of senior superintendents of police of four districts falling under the range and took the decision to disallow any such events that would disturb the peace and communal harmony in the area. Section 144 would be imposed in the area during that period.

Despite the ban, the Bajrang Dal has vowed to continue with their programme, triggering fears of confrontation with the administration. Balraj Doongar, the Bajrang Dal’s Uttar Pradesh convenor, has warned the state government to not play with fire and allow peaceful events. The Bajrang Dal had planned to convert 40,000 people in 20 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including 2,000 Muslims during Christmas. They have the target of reconverting one lakh people in 2014.

The UP Government swung into action after the conversion of 300 Muslims in Agra to Hinduism triggered a huge uproar across India. The Parliament saw pandemonium situation over the issue. The government had to allow a debate on this issue, but strongly vouched for an anti-conversion law, which put the Congress and others on back foot.