7.32 lakh candidates appear on second day of the Constable Recruitment Exam in UP
The examination, held in two shifts on Tuesday at 1,183 centers across all 75 districts of the state, concluded successfully in a peaceful and well-organized manner.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday renewed his government’s defence of the state’s anti-conversion law, saying people must remain vigilant against what he described as “love jihad”, which he alleged was aimed at changing religious demographics.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the nine-day Shri Ram Katha Mahotsav in Lucknow, the chief minister said concerns over the issue had been raised years ago but were not acted upon until Uttar Pradesh enacted a stringent law in 2020.
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The remarks come amid a continuing political and legal debate over anti-conversion laws enacted by several states. While supporters argue such laws are necessary to prevent forced or fraudulent religious conversions, critics have challenged them in courts, contending that they infringe upon constitutional freedoms.
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Referring to observations made by the Kerala High Court in the past, Adityanath said the issue had been flagged as early as 2009 and 2011.
“The Kerala High Court had expressed concern in 2009 and 2011 about this, that it is a conspiracy to change religious demographics. We never paid attention to it. We enacted a strict law on this in Uttar Pradesh in 2020. We must remain vigilant. Whoever has made Ram the ideal of their life, their welfare has been ensured,” he said.
Akhilesh Yadav questions government’s commitment to Sanatan values
The chief minister’s remarks drew a response from Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the government of straying from the principles of truth and brotherhood associated with Sanatan Dharma.
Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh alleged that the state’s leadership was not practising the values it often invokes in public discourse.
“Our CM has no love for affection, his love is for land. Just check the records in Gorakhpur to see in whose name the highest number of property registrations have been made. Sanatan Dharma shows us the path of love, brotherhood and represents the path of truth. Yet, the head of the government does not follow the path of truth,” he said.
RSS chief had also raised issue of ‘love jihad’
The issue was also referenced earlier by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who said efforts to prevent “love jihad” should begin within families while addressing the ‘Stri Shakti Samvad’ programme in Bhopal.
In December 2025, Bhagwat had also spoken against live-in relationships and stressed the importance of family structures in society.
Anti-conversion laws remain under legal scrutiny
Several petitions challenging anti-conversion laws enacted by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are pending before courts.
The petitioners have argued that provisions in laws enacted by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand against alleged “love jihad” and the punishments prescribed under them are unconstitutional and violate the basic structure doctrine.
Those challenging the laws have maintained that the provisions are unconstitutional and infringe upon fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens.
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