- Yogi Adityanath raises concerns over alleged “Love Jihad” and “Land Jihad”.
- Chief Minister calls for vigilance against attempts to alter demographic balance.
- Akhilesh Yadav responds, saying Yogi “doesn’t understand love”.
- Political sparring intensifies ahead of key electoral battles in Uttar Pradesh.
GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 10th June: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks on the issues of alleged “Love Jihad” and “Land Jihad” triggered a sharp political exchange on Tuesday, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accusing the BJP leader of not understanding the meaning of love.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of a nine-day Ramkatha Mahotsav in Lucknow, Adityanath warned against what he described as attempts to alter the country’s religious demography and urged people to remain vigilant.
The Chief Minister said India could not become a refuge for individuals who lacked loyalty towards the nation and asserted that society must remain united against divisive forces.
Referring to mythological episodes from the life of Lord Ram, Adityanath said forces seeking to weaken centres of learning and social harmony had existed throughout history and needed to be confronted collectively.
He also cited concerns raised by courts in earlier years regarding religious conversion and said the Uttar Pradesh government had enacted legislation in 2020 to prevent unlawful religious conversions through force, fraud or coercion.
“It is part of a conspiracy to change religious demography. Greater public awareness is needed and society must remain alert,” the Chief Minister said.
Raising the issue of alleged “Land Jihad”, Adityanath said activities aimed at altering demographic and social structures through land-related transactions should also be challenged.
He further cautioned against attempts to divide society on the basis of caste, language or region and called for social unity.
Reacting to the remarks, Akhilesh Yadav launched a counterattack, saying the Chief Minister appeared to have more interest in land than in love.
“He doesn’t understand love. He seems to have affection only for land,” the former Chief Minister said.
Questioning Adityanath’s comments on land-related issues, Yadav referred to property records in Gorakhpur and suggested that the government should examine land transactions there.
The Samajwadi Party chief also said Sanatan Dharma teaches love, brotherhood and truth, and alleged that the BJP government was deviating from those values.
The exchange has once again brought the politically charged issues of religious conversion and demographic change into the spotlight in Uttar Pradesh.
While right-wing groups frequently use the term “Love Jihad” to describe alleged religious conversions through marriage, the term is not defined under any central law. In 2020, the Union Home Ministry informed Parliament that there is no legal definition of “Love Jihad” under existing Indian laws.
Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, have enacted anti-conversion laws that prohibit religious conversion through force, fraud, coercion or allurement, including for the sole purpose of marriage.
