Universities, Higher Education Institutions in UP to Set Up 'Anti-Conversion' Cells
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel has directed all universities, higher educational institutions including medical and dental colleges in the state to set up “anti-conversion cells”, a move that has been backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, reported Hindustan Times.
In a letter from the governor’s secretariat to vice chancellors, directors of all state universities and institutes, all high educational institutions, including medical institutes and others, have been directed to strengthen counselling services, monitoring systems, student welfare mechanisms, reporting protocols and establish preventive safeguards after reports of students allegedly being influenced through inducement, psychological pressure or other unethical means (for conversion).
“Any kind of illegal or forced religious conversion attempt carried out by influencing students, instilling fear, creating mental pressure or offering unethical inducements is completely unacceptable, unethical and contrary to law,” the letter adds, reported Indian Express.
The letter also claims that reports are being received frequently about “attempts to convert students through inducements or psychological pressure.”
“At the university and institutional level, ‘Anti-Radicalisation’ units or Student Welfare Cells should be made highly active,” says the letter.
The letter also advocates that institutions organise lectures and seminars on “moral values, logical thinking and legal rights.” It also directs universities to immediately inform local administration and police if any organisation, group or individual is found engaging in suspicious activities linked to conversion attempts.
The letter adds that such cases should attract action under the state’s anti-conversion laws.
The Wire has previously reported how anti-conversion laws are misused by the enforcement agencies both suo motu and on political directive. Vigilantes belonging to Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and others also use them to harass the minorities, especially Muslims. Any non-Hindu institution or group making provision for a free clinic, a scholarship, even a friendly prayer meeting comes under scrutiny and legal and illegal harassment follow.
Several cases of a Hindu nationalist group filing complaints and police acting quickly despite weak or non-existent proof have been noticed. Given low conviction rate arrests, court cases, and violence spoil the social harmony. The laws have appeared to become a tool not to stop conversion, but to scare the minorities.
In April this year, condemning what it termed a “disturbing trend” of false FIRs being filed under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, the Allahabad high court had directed the additional chief secretary (home) of the state to file a personal affidavit specifying the action being taken in such cases.
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