Wednesday, December 24, 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

    EC slaps Azam Khan with fresh notice over poll code

    EC slaps Azam Khan with fresh notice over poll code
    The Election Commission Wednesday issued fresh notice to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for "persistently" and "continuously" violating the model code of conduct.

    EC slaps Azam Khan with fresh notice over poll code

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul
    AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from here to take on BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi after a massive road show that drew thousands in the Hindu holy city.

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi
    BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Tuesday refuted allegations that Bollywood was getting divided because of him.

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost
    The Delhi Police succumbed to anti-Sikh sentiments in 1984, thus abetting rioting and arson, a sting operation by news portal Cobrapost revealed Tuesday. The expose triggered a political row.

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters
    Cobrapost which carried out the sting operation on Babri demolition a few days ago has now come up with another expose that claims Congress government in 1984 didn't allow the Delhi police to act against those involved in the anti-Sikh riots.

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders
    As the election fever builds up in Punjab for the April 30 Lok Sabha polls, so is the concern among politicians about the polling date coming right in the middle of the peak wheat-crop harvesting season.

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders