Chicago – December 06, 2024
Hundreds of Muslim girls are being forced into converting to Hinduism in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to media reports.
Known as the resting place of the Buddha, Khushingar in UP is reporting an alarming number of cases where Muslim girls are being abducted and forced to convert to Hinduism by the BJP MP Yogi Adityanath’s Hindu Yuva Vahini.
A fact finding report of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) on Kushinagar found dozens of cases of rapes and forced kidnappings of young Muslim girls for religious conversion. The report, submitted to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in January 2016, blames `local goons of HYV’ for the atrocities.
According to AIMMM President Mohammad Sulaiman, who believes all men accused of crimes have a connection with HYV, strong HYV influence and backwardness of the Muslim community in the region is a major factor behind the increasing number of cases.
Almost one-fourth of India’s Muslim population lives in Uttar Pradesh. Within the state, 36% of the minority community is concentrated to the east. In Kushinagar, the Muslim population stands at a mere 16%.
Muslim organisations have accused Hindu nationalist groups, close to the governing BJP, of “forced conversions” and demanded action against them.
The Hindu groups have denied the charge and say the conversions were voluntary.
