Friday, December 26, 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

    The 2014 Indian elections: Clash of the Titans

    The 2014 Indian elections: Clash of the Titans
    Three prominent political leaders in India's history – Rahul Gandhi: heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty; Narendra Modi: the controversial, yet popular Hindu nationalist; and Arvind Kejriwal: leader of an anti-graft group that claimed a surprise victory in state elections in India’s capital – will battle on the elections grounds in the upcoming 2014 national elections.

    The 2014 Indian elections: Clash of the Titans

    US indictment against Devyani Khobragade dropped

    US indictment against Devyani Khobragade dropped
    A US federal court has dismissed charges of visa fraud and making false statements against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest and subsequent strip-search in New York escalated into a full diplomatic row last year. 

    US indictment against Devyani Khobragade dropped

    December 16 Gang rape: All Four Convicts To Hang

    December 16 Gang rape: All Four Convicts To Hang
    The victim's teary-eyed parents said they are "happy" but will feel justice is done after the four are hanged, while a defence lawyer termed the verdict "political".

    December 16 Gang rape: All Four Convicts To Hang

    Arvind Kejriwal tears into Congress, BJP at Mumbai rally

    Arvind Kejriwal tears into Congress, BJP at Mumbai rally
    I am warning you... After April, the country will witness unprecedented levels of inflation. Everything, foodgrain, vegetables, fruits, petrol, will become very expensive due to their policies, he said

    Arvind Kejriwal tears into Congress, BJP at Mumbai rally

    Rahul Gandhi booked for defaming RSS

    Rahul Gandhi booked for defaming RSS
    A defamation case was filed against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for saying at a rally in Maharashtra March 6 that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) killed Mahatma Gandhi.

    Rahul Gandhi booked for defaming RSS

    AAP gets Rs.15 million in 10 days

    AAP gets Rs.15 million in 10 days
    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has received nearly Rs.15 million ($246,000) as donations in the first 10 days of March from within the country and outside, party sources said.

    AAP gets Rs.15 million in 10 days