The ATS in Uttar Pradesh has exposed a big conversion racket in which about Rs 100 crore was sent to 40 accounts through foreign funding. This gang, led by the main accused ‘Chhangru Baba’ alias Jamsheduddin, used to convert upper caste girls at the rate of Rs 15-16 lakh. This is not just a matter of faith, but a well-planned social conspiracy that attempts to break the unity of the nation based on caste, religion, and gender. This should be seen as organized crime, not religious freedom.
Religion is the soul of any society, but when the use of religion turns into a ‘business’, then the question is not just of faith but of the security of the nation, social harmony, and moral values. A big conversion racket exposed by the ATS in Uttar Pradesh has brought this horrifying truth in front of us. Allegedly led by “Chhangru Baba” alias Jamsheduddin, this gang was not only converting innocent people, but there was also a systematic network, foreign funding, and caste-based targeting behind it.
The way the modus operandi of this racket has come to light it reveals conversion as a well-planned business. This was not a decision of personal faith, but a mission run by foreign money, in which religion, caste, women, and society were treated as a commodity. According to the FIR and investigation report, there was a proper ‘rate card’ for conversion. The rate of conversion for upper caste girls was up to Rs 15-16 lakh, while for other girls it was Rs 8-10 lakh. Imagine, when religion also starts being evaluated based on caste and gender, to what level it becomes a symbol of degradation.
The report states that this racket had 40 bank accounts in which more than Rs 100 crore was sent from abroad. On whose instructions was this money sent, for what purposes, and from which countries? These questions are not just of the investigating agencies but of the entire country. Was it only for conversion, or is there some other big global, political or ideological conspiracy hidden behind it?
Social media was used extensively in the modus operandi of this racket. Weaker sections were lured by making fake videos, motivational speeches, and a ‘relief received by accepting Islam’ viral. First, they were mentally influenced, then financial inducements were given, and finally, forced conversion. This is like psychological warfare – where the brain is won first, then the body. And the saddest thing is that it was given the name of religion.
In this case, the conversion of an entire family from the Balrampur district has been confirmed. There, women and children were targeted and forced to convert. This is not an exception, but part of the same pattern, in which rural, uneducated, and economically backward communities are targeted. This is the exploitation of social inequality. When the state, society, and administration are unable to protect these families, such gangs spread their web.
The most dangerous aspect of this racket was caste-based pricing. More money was paid for converting girls from higher castes. This means that conversion has become a tool not just for religion but also for breaking the caste-social structure. This is not only a ploy to weaken Hindu society but also a strategy to disintegrate the nation internally.
The so-called secular intellectuals are silent on this issue. The same class that cries for ‘secularism’, talks about the ‘soul of the Constitution’, has become mute today. Why? Has conversion also been considered freedom of expression? Isn’t it a violation of human rights to forcefully change the religion of a poor, Dalit woman or tribal? If someone objects to a Dalit entering a temple, then there is hue and cry, but when the same Dalit is forced to convert for money, then no one speaks. This silence itself is a crime.
It is also worth noting that political parties often do not react openly on such matters due to vote bank politics. Such anti-national acts are ignored in the name of the ‘sensitivity’ of minorities. The question is, has the integrity and social harmony of the country become smaller than the vote bank? If any Hindu organization talks about stopping conversions, it is called fundamentalist, but when foreign money comes in the name of conversion and breaks the society, everyone becomes silent.
This is not an isolated case. There are gangs active in various parts of the country who are converting people by taking advantage of social weakness, economic compulsion, and lack of education. To deal with this, anti-conversion laws should be strengthened. The digital tracking mechanism should be strengthened to monitor foreign funding. There should be a system for rehabilitation and psychological counselling of the affected families. It is important to make society self-reliant and aware through education and employment.
Religion is a matter of the soul; making it a tool for bargaining is not only a crime but also an insult to humanity. When conversion is done not out of individual consciousness but out of greed, fear, or deceit, then it is not religion but exploitation. It is important for us to identify these organized crimes going on under the guise of conversion, oppose them, and make organized efforts to save society from such activities. Do not sell or buy religion – rather, understand, assimilate, and protect its dignity.
