Monday, December 22, 2025
ADVT 
India

Poor Muslims In Agra Who Converted Will Be Given Ration Cards: Bajrang Dal

IANS, 09 Dec, 2014 12:40 PM
    A Bajrang Dal leader said Tuesday that all the 300 poor Muslims who he said had embraced Hinduism here will be given ration cards they badly lacked.
     
    Amid claims by one of the 300 that they were forced to give up Islam, Bajrang Dal's Ajju Chauhan said everyone in the group would be now taught Hindu rituals.
     
    The Bajrang Dal organised the conversion ceremony Monday.
     
    Chauhan, the group's co-convener, said Tuesday that all those who converted to Hinduism would be "Sanskritised". They would be registered as voters and would get ration cards. 
     
    He said the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), to which the Bajrang Dal is allied, had been working "hard for three months to persuade them to convert to Hinduism". 
     
    The 300 members of some 60 Muslim families who reportedly embraced Hinduism Monday evening live in a slum on the outskirts of the Taj city -- and are miserably poor.
     
    Most of them had lived near Madhu Nagar on Gwalior Road for 17 long years after migrating either from West Bengal or Bangladesh. 
     
    Agra's Muslim leaders mostly declined to comment on the episode.
     
    But one Muslim scholar who did not want to be quoted by name alleged that those who converted were not Muslims.
     
    "It is true that they are all from outside Agra, perhaps from Bangladesh, and had been living here illegally as they have no voter, Adhaar or ration cards," he said.
     
    Munira, one of the 300, alleged they were lured to the event on the promise of giving them a plot of land and ration cards.
     
    "We were taken to a place where a fire ceremony was on," Munira told ABP news channel. "We were made to sit there. We became panicky. We were told to pray to Hindu gods. We did whatever they told us...
     
    "But now we are again reading the Holy Quran and our family members offered namaz today," he added.
     
    Agra's Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur said no complaint had been registered regarding the event. "We will take action if there is a complaint."
     
    A Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Premendra Jain, wondered if Bangladeshis could be allowed to live in India if they give up Islam.
     
    "We have been demanding the expulsion of all Bangladeshis living illegally in India," Jain told IANS. 
     
    "Now these people have been converted to Hinduism. Does it mean all those staying in India illegally will be allowed to stay here if they convert?"

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Five bodies found in Himachal river, 21 still missing

    Five bodies found in Himachal river, 21 still missing
    The bodies of five engineering students were retrieved Monday from the Beas river in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district while a search is on for 21 others who were washed away. A court described it as "consequence of utter and callous negligence".

    Five bodies found in Himachal river, 21 still missing

    President lists how Modi's 'acche din' are here to come

    President lists how Modi's 'acche din' are here to come
    If "acche din aane wale hain" or good days are to come was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vote-pulling election slogan, President Pranab Mukherjee Monday outlined "how" in his 55-minute address to a joint session of parliament, listing the new government's priorities in areas ranging from domestic issues to foreign policy.

    President lists how Modi's 'acche din' are here to come

    More Indians fancying foreign vacations this summer

    More Indians fancying foreign vacations this summer
    A strengthening rupee, the impact and influence of social media and, most importantly, the yearning of Indian travellers to explore the world, especially during the ongoing summer vacation, is contributing to the robust growth of India's outbound travel sector.

    More Indians fancying foreign vacations this summer

    Chinese foreign minister meets Sushma Swaraj, 'all issues' on table

    Chinese foreign minister meets Sushma Swaraj, 'all issues' on table
    China Sunday made contact with the new Indian government as its Foreign Minister Wang Yi, special envoy of President Xi Jinping, held talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here, during which "all issues of significance" were on the table, including the unsettled border, Tibet and stapled visas besides a boost in trade ties.

    Chinese foreign minister meets Sushma Swaraj, 'all issues' on table

    AAP to move out following neighbours' complaint

    AAP to move out following neighbours' complaint
    41 Hanuman Road off Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital might no longer be the AAP's address as it could move out of the two-storey building that was its home for 18 months - because the neighbours are complaining, party sources said.

    AAP to move out following neighbours' complaint

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?
    A day after a deep divide between AAP's top leaders came to the fore, its chief Arvind Kejriwal Saturday admitted it needed "restructuring" and said the "differences" had been resolved.

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?