Chhangur network in Uttarakhand: CM wants anti-conversion law made harsher

Amidst reports of Chhangur Baba’s conversion racket spreading in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday vouched for making state’s anti-conversion law more stringent.

Dhami claimed that being an international border state, all efforts will be made to prevent a demographic shift due to planned religious conversions in the light of recent incidents coming to the light and revelations made by enforcement agencies.

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Reports of Changur Baba’s conversion syndicate active in the Himalayan state have forced the BJP government in Uttarakhand to review its anti-conversion law enacted in 2024.

In a high-level meeting with senior bureaucrats in Dehradun on Monday, Chief Minister Dhami said, “Uttarakhand is a border state and Devbhumi for Sanatan Dharma. Any attempt to change its demography should be prevented and culprits will be dealt with a heavy hand. In the light of recent incidents coming to the fore, immediate steps should be taken to make the anti-conversion law more stringent. The law enacted by the state government could be revisited to make it harsher.”

Dhami said police must remain alert, keeping an eye on suspicious activities of unscrupulous elements involved in subversive activities in the state. “Innocent citizens trapped by antisocial elements involved in illegal religious conversions must be provided socio-religious counseling facilities and proper guidance to the victims.”

The chief minister stressed that ‘Operation Kalnemi’ has exposed impostor religious men active in disguise and helped the enforcement agencies to bring them to justice. “This campaign needs to be continued and an SIT should be formed at the state police headquarters to monitor it.”

Officials present in the meeting shared that Dhami’s statement and instruction for revisiting anti-conversion law in the state was based on the recent arrest of men working for Chhangur’s network in Uttarakhand. Besides, said an official, the chief minister was serious about the revelations made by the Uttar Pradesh Police on the design of Chhangur Baba’s syndicate to make India a Islamic country.