Yogi Adityanath Warns Against Political Islam's Threat to India's Demographic Composition at RSS Event

Yogi Adityanath attended an event in Gorakhpur to mark RSS centenary celebrations

New Delhi:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has highlighted "political Islam" as a significant threat aiming to alter India's demographic composition. Speaking at an RSS centenary celebration event in Gorakhpur, he noted that while our ancestors fought against this menace, it rarely receives adequate historical attention today.

Adityanath emphasized that discussions of British and French colonialism dominate historical narratives, while "political Islam" remains largely unexplored. He credited historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh, Maharana Pratap, and Maharana Sanga for their valiant resistance against "political Islam," lamenting that these struggles remain insufficiently acknowledged.

The Chief Minister warned that "political Islam" continues its divisive agenda in India today. He referenced the Chhangur Baba case from Balrampur district, where a self-proclaimed godman, Jalaluddin Shah, was arrested in July for allegedly operating an illegal religious conversion network.

According to Adityanath, entities like Chhangur Baba represent how "political Islam" works to fragment the nation. He commended the RSS for its efforts to unite society against such threats, describing their work as praiseworthy.

Addressing the Halal certification issue, Adityanath revealed that Chhangur Baba offered financial incentives for religious conversion based on caste hierarchy. He questioned the source of such funding, suggesting it originates domestically rather than internationally.

"When purchasing products, verify whether they carry Halal certification, which we've prohibited in Uttar Pradesh," he advised. "Surprisingly, even everyday items like soap, clothing, and matchsticks receive halal certification."

The Chief Minister disclosed that approximately Rs 25,000 crore was collected nationwide through Halal certification without governmental authorization. "These funds are diverted toward terrorism, love jihad, and religious conversion activities. Uttar Pradesh has therefore launched a comprehensive campaign against this practice," he stated, urging consumer vigilance.

Adityanath characterized Chhangur alias Jalaluddin as merely a "sample," warning that similar individuals likely operate undetected in communities and encouraging public vigilance.

Halal certification indicates that products or services comply with Islamic law and are suitable for Muslim consumption. In India, third-party organizations handle such certification, which remains optional rather than mandatory.

In his address, Adityanath also criticized Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for questioning the necessity of the state government's Deepotsav Diwali celebrations on social media. "His comments reveal his antipathy toward Deepavali. Previously, we believed his hostility was limited to the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and other Hindu pilgrimage sites," Adityanath remarked.

He suggested that Yadav would have refrained from such "childish statements" had he appreciated the economic importance of Diwali for potter communities like the Prajapatis, whose products see peak demand during the festival season.

"As the saying goes, one might inherit a throne but not intelligence, which requires personal effort. Some individuals remain childish throughout their lives," Adityanath said, referencing Yadav's position as both former Chief Minister and son of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. The Chief Minister concluded by labeling Yadav a "traitor to Sanatan Dharma festivals."