The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has submitted a memorandum to Pune Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale, alleging that organised efforts are being made to convert people and mislead Warkaris during the annual Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage as well as patients at government hospitals, including Sassoon Hospital. The organisation sought strict legal action against those allegedly involved and demanded the immediate implementation of an anti-conversion law in Maharashtra, as reported in My Pune City.
According to the Samiti, a delegation comprising coordinator Parag Gokhale, Krishnaji Patil, Sachin Ghule, and other activists met the Divisional Commissioner to present the memorandum. The organisation said the Divisional Commissioner assured the delegation that appropriate legal action would be taken against those found guilty.
Allegations of Conversion Attempts Targeting Warkaris and Hospital Patients
In its memorandum, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti alleged that poor patients in government hospitals and Warkaris participating in the Pandharpur pilgrimage were being targeted for religious conversion by exploiting their vulnerable circumstances.
The organisation referred to an incident in July in which a Christian couple, identified as Sunil Varghese and Pratibha Varghese, were allegedly caught outside Sassoon Hospital attempting to convert people by claiming that cancer could be cured solely through prayers to Jesus.
The memorandum further alleged that along the Wari route, booklets titled ‘Krupa Sangam’ and other materials containing what it described as “fake Abhangas” were being distributed among Warkaris. According to the Samiti, these publications invoke the names of revered Hindu saints while promoting Biblical teachings, with the intention of misleading pilgrims.
The organisation also alleged that in the Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar) region, programmes such as ‘Matmauli Wari’ and ‘Yeshunam Saptah’ were being organised in a manner closely resembling the traditional Warkari pilgrimage, including Dindi processions and the use of Taal-Mrudang, which it claimed amounted to deceiving devotees.
Allegations of Provocative Placards and Digital Campaigns
The memorandum also alleged that provocative placards bearing the Urdu message “There is no God but Allah” had been displayed along Palkhi routes with the intention of hurting Hindu sentiments and disturbing social harmony.
The Samiti further claimed that a digital campaign was being carried out through social media reels featuring fabricated Abhangas falsely attributed to revered saints.
Reference to ATS Arrest
The organisation also referred to the arrest of Prashant Kamble, also known as “Laptop Kamble,” an activist associated with the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANiS), by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) last year on allegations of links with Naxalites.
The memorandum stated that allowing individuals allegedly associated with anti-national ideologies to participate in the Wari under the guise of progressive activism posed a serious threat to national security and could be used to influence pilgrims.
Committee’s Demands
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti urged the Maharashtra government to enact a stringent Anti-Conversion Law, modelled on the legislation in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to prevent what it described as organised conversion activities.
The organisation also demanded:
- Immediate registration of cases under Sections 299, 302 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against individuals allegedly distributing fabricated and suspicious religious literature.
- Deployment of plain-clothes police personnel in government hospitals to prevent alleged conversion activities targeting patients.
- Prohibition on the participation of activists from organisations allegedly involved in anti-national activities or those with suspicious backgrounds in the Wari pilgrimage.
The memorandum was submitted with a request for immediate administrative and legal action on the issues raised by the organisation.
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