Aligarh: A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-linked outfit, which had planned a religious conversion programme here on December 25, has cancelled the event in the face of controversy.
Western UP-based Hindutva group, Dharm Jagran Samiti, said “the proposed ‘ghar wapsi’ (conversion ceremony) planned for December 25 has been called off.” Satya Prakash Nauman, district president, Dharm Jagran Samiti, however, did not speak on the reason behind the cancellation.
The outfit had stoked controversy after it announced a mass conversion ceremony at a local college in Aligarh on Christmas.
Following the controversy, the district administration had imposed Section 144 in the city prohibiting gathering of crowds.
BJP was also dragged into the controversy after its MP Yogi Adityanath had said that he will also attend the event. Adityanath said justified re-conversion to Hinduism if people were willing.
The party had, however, distanced itself from the programme. Its district president Devraj Singh had said: “We are not organising this ceremony but if the organisers including the Bajrang Dal seek our help on this score, we will certainly do whatever we can to help them.”