'Stay cautious against those who try to divide Hindus and Sikhs', says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday claimed attempts were being made to drive a wedge between the Hindus and Sikhs, and urged the people to be wary of such actions.

He also claimed that the now-behind bars Chhangur Baba of Balrampur had fixed rates for religious conversions, leading to transactions to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

Adityanath made the remarks at the flagging-off of UP-Delhi Sandesh Yatra, being held to mark the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

He hosted the yatris at his official residence here.

The Sandesh Yatra will start from Lucknow and culminate at Chandni Chowk Sheeshganj Gurudwara in Delhi, the UP government said in a statement.

Adityanath said that some cases of conversion have come to the fore in Pilibhit also, and asked the people to be a "little cautious" of religious conversions.

"You must have seen what kind of conspiracy is going on. We have recently taken a big action in Balrampur. You must have seen that he had fixed the rates. That is, how to take forward the programme of conversion.

"He had fixed the rates for converting Hindus, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Sikhs, other OBC castes, Scheduled Castes and (Scheduled) Tribes. Money was coming in from abroad. Just think, transactions worth more than Rs 100 crore have been received in his 40 accounts so far," the chief minister said.

He said that he had dispatched a team to the district to conduct 'ghar wapsi' (returning to original faith) of the converted.

Adityanath said that some forces are trying to change the nature of the country in a planned manner and conspiring to break the religious harmony.

The UP Anti-Terrorism Squad on July 6 arrested Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba and Neetu alias Nasreen, both natives of Madhpur in Balrampur district, for allegedly running a massive conversion racket.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it had found inputs that suggested that the man amassed funds worth about Rs 106 crore, mainly from the Middle East, in 40 bank accounts linked to him and his associates, agency sources said.

At the event, Adityanath paid his tributes to the Sikh gurus and hailed them for their sacrifice.

"Circumstances have changed. Their objective is the same as it was at that time. Yes, they have changed their way of working. And this event is inspiring all of us for the purpose for which the Sikh Gurus had sacrificed their lives," he said.

"Remember that many people will try to create divisions between Hindus and Sikhs. There is a conspiracy among us to divide us and weaken us. Who will save us from this? We will have to be cautious," the BJP leader said.

Adityanath also mentioned Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and denounced him for his atrocities.

"What a time it must have been when there was a cruel and brutal ruler like Aurangzeb. At that time, news of atrocities came from not just one place but from everywhere," he said.

He said the ruler started a massive campaign of Islamisation, which was challenged by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj.

"And what atrocities were not committed on him," he said.