UP ‘Epicentre of Politics of Hate’: 104 Ex-IAS Officers to Yogi

The former civil servants have demanded that the “illegal ordinance be withdrawn forthwith”.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government on24 November passed a new ordinance to tackle ‘love jihad’.     

The Quint

The Uttar Pradesh government's controversial anti-conversion ordinance, in the name of ‘love jihad’, has turned the state into "the epicentre of politics of hate, division and bigotry", read a strongly-worded letter signed by 104 former IAS officers to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The former civil servants, including former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and former Adviser to the Prime Minister TKA Nair, have demanded that the "illegal ordinance be withdrawn forthwith", reported NDTV.

“... UP, once known as the cradle of the Ganga-Jamuna civilisation, has become the epicentre of the politics of hate, division and bigotry, and institutions of governance are now steeped in communal poison.”

Letter Signed by Former IAS Officers to UP CM Yogi Adityanath

'An Assault Upon Freedom of Choice'

The letter highlighted several instances of minorities being targeted in the state.

Last week, two teenagers in UP's Bijnor were harassed and taken to a police station where a case of ‘love jihad’ was filed, despite objections from the girl and her mother. The boy has been in jail for over a week for allegedly forcibly trying to convert a 16-year-old Hindu girl.

“These atrocities, regardless of indignation of Indians devoted to rule of law, continue unabated. The anti-conversion ordinance... is being used as a stick to victimise especially those Indian men who are Muslim and women who dare to exercise their freedom of choice.”

Letter Signed by Former IAS Officers to UP CM Yogi Adityanath

The letter also stated that various high courts, including the Allahabad High Court, have ruled unequivocally that choosing one's life partner is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution, but “the state of UP is blithely undermining that very Constitution," the signatories said.

“... a series of heinous atrocities committed by your administration against young Indians across Uttar Pradesh... Indians who are simply seeking to live their lives as free citizens of a free country.”

Letter Signed by Former IAS Officers to UP CM Yogi Adityanath

The IAS officers’ letter comes after a series of cases were filed by the UP Police under the new ordinance.