Yogi warns people against ‘bid’ to divide Hindus, Sikhs

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday bowed to the legacy and sacrifices of Sikh Gurus and warned against “attempts to divide the Hindus and Sikhs”.

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He was addressing the flagging-off ceremony of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra held at his official residence and dedicated to the 350th Shaheedi Varsh of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

“Conspiracies to divide Hindus and Sikhs have been attempted before and will continue to surface, but we must remain vigilant and united,” he said, adding that the Shaheedi Diwas inspired people to carry forward the Gurus’ legacy and adapt it to modern-day strategies to ensure no community or individual is ever forced to abandon their culture or religion.

The UP CM further said the yatra was a powerful reminder of the oppressive era under Aurangzeb’s rule. “Mughal ruler Aurangzeb sought to suppress Sanatan Dharma and impose Islamic dominance. In the face of this tyranny, Guru Tegh Bahadur chose martyrdom over compromise, standing firm on the path of righteousness,” he said.

He also warned the public against illegal religious conversions, calling the trend a calculated conspiracy to undermine the nation’s identity and social fabric. He said the UP Government would not tolerate such conversions. He highlighted that marginalised communities, particularly SCs, were being lured or coerced into changing their religion.

He highlighted the recent Balrampur case, where a large-scale illegal conversion racket backed by foreign funding was unearthed and revealed that transactions worth over Rs 100 crore were found across 40 accounts, with pre-determined “rates” for conversion.

The Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra, which commenced from Lucknow, will pass through Kanpur, Etawah, and Agra before culminating at Chandni Chowk and the Sis Ganj Gurudwara in Delhi, the site of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom. A commemorative memento was also presented to the Chief Minister to mark the occasion.