Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cautioned citizens to remain alert against forces attempting to create divisions between Hindus and Sikhs. Speaking at the flag-off of the U.P.-Delhi Balidan Sandesh Yatra, held to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, Adityanath emphasized the need for unity amid ongoing conspiracies.
Referring to recent incidents of religious conversions, he highlighted the case of Chhangur Baba of Balrampur, now behind bars, who allegedly operated a well-funded conversion racket. “He had fixed rates for converting individuals from various castes and communities Hindus, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Sikhs, OBCs, SCs, and STs,” said the Chief Minister.
According to Adityanath, over ₹100 crore was funneled from foreign sources into 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba and his associates. The U.P. Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested him and his aide Nasreen on July 6. On July 10, the Enforcement Directorate confirmed that the racket had amassed ₹106 crore, allegedly from the Middle East. Adityanath announced that he had dispatched a team to Balrampur to conduct ‘ghar wapsi’—an initiative to bring converted individuals back to their original faiths.
Paying tribute to the Sikh Gurus, he denounced historical atrocities under Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, calling them part of a larger campaign of forced Islamisation that Guru Teg Bahadur had bravely resisted. The Chief Minister reiterated that citizens must stay vigilant. “Many will try to divide us,” he warned. “We must stand united, as the Sikh Gurus once did, to protect faith, culture, and national integrity.”