A case involving religious conversion, encouraged by the temptation of financial gain and assurances of advantages from government programs, has emerged in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Former Minister Satish Dwivedi accused that a coordinated effort is in progress in Dhobahi village of the Mishraulia police station area, aimed particularly at impoverished Hindu families to persuade them to change their faith.
The charges have been brought against Maulvi Ghulam Hussain, the former village head, Hadisullah and Farooq. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR (First Information Report).
He pointed out that the hamlet is predominantly Muslim and is home to economically vulnerable Dalit Hindu families. Exploiting this scenario, a local group has targeted these people. Two brothers, who were present with Dwivedi during a press conference, asserted that their third brother Ramprasad, known as Dakalu, has embraced Islam alongside his three daughters. They also noted that he began to wear a skullcap, observe the fasts (Roza) and strictly followed Islamic religious customs and practices during the recent Ramzan month. Ramprasad’s daughters read namaz in mosque, wore burqa and were sent to Maktab (Islamic institute) with his aide.
The accused are pressuring people to convert to Islam by enticing them with offers of money, housing and government welfare initiatives. “Ramprasad’s brothers, Babulal Vishwakarma and Omprakash Vishwakarma were also subjected to continuous pressure to convert along with their families. They were lured with offers of money, housing and various amenities, but they chose to refuse. Babulal Vishwakarma is a Booth President for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and he was the one who provided me with the details concerning this entire issue. All of these individuals are engaged in farming activities,” Dwivedi mentioned.
The two were warned of serious repercussions if they did not adhere to the demands. He further highlighted that money was transferred from the account of Hadisullah’s brother, who is located in an Arab country, to the bank account of Ramprasad and this financial transaction suggests a conspiracy that is connected to the religious conversion. Calling for an unbiased inquiry, the former minister remarked that the situation could pose a threat to social harmony if prompt measures are not implemented.
The authorities have filed a case against the three perpetrators, and a search operation is presently in progress. The police stated that the latter are anticipated to be apprehended soon. They have invoked sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion 2021 in the matter.
