Warning to thrash those who want to convert people : BJP-MLA Gopichand Padalkar

• Also appeals to announce the award of ₹11 lakhs for eliminating Christian missionaries forcing conversions  

• To try to pass the anti-conversion law in the state legislative assembly

MLA Gopichand Padalkar addressing the gathering

Sangli, Maharashtra – Incidents of ‘Love Jihad’ and conversions need to be curbed. Christian missionaries have become more conspiratorial in converting people; therefore, if anyone comes to you for conversion, thrash him, appealed BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar. He assured to try to bring a law against conversion of religion in the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly starting from 30.06.2025. A pregnant woman named Rutuja Rajage committed suicide due to oppression by her in-laws, putting pressure on her to convert. A candlelit march was taken out by devout Hindu activists on 17.06.2025, protesting against this incident following the appeal made by MLA Gopichand Padalkar. Rutuja’s parents, ‘Hindu Ekta Andolan’s regional president and former MLA, Nitin Shinde and ‘Pujya’ Ishwarbuva Ramdasi, aka Dada Maharaj, shared the dais with him.

Former MLA Nitin Shinde said, “Passing a law against conversion of religion in the coming monsoon session of the state legislative assembly will be a true homage to Rutuja Rajage. Poor people are lured with various baits to convert them. Henceforth, everyone should be alert and teach a lesson to these people.”

MLA Gopichand Padalkar said –

1. Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj had told Aurangzeb that he would not change his religion even if he had to sacrifice his life. Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje was tortured till death, but he didn’t change his religion. Rutuja is a daughter of the ideology of Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj. She, too, has sacrificed her life for Dharma, but we should start a movement to bash up such people who force conversion on others and prevent our daughters from taking such extreme steps.

2. Hindu Dharma will not do injustice to anyone. Rutuja was an educated girl. She was studying for competitive examinations. A naib tehsildar named Koli got Rutuja married to this man. He is still working for the Government. Henceforth, thrash a person who comes to your village and your home to forcefully convert you. Those involved in ‘Love Jihad’ are green snakes; similarly, those forcing Christianity on others are pythons. We need to run ‘JCB’ on such pythons.

3. We keep prizes for the winners of bullock cart races. Similarly, we should keep prizes for those who bash up missionaries coming to convert people. ₹5 lakh should be declared for the first person thrashing such a missionary, the second one to be given ₹4 lakh, while the third one to be given ₹3 lakh as prizes.

4. If Christian missionaries are listening to me, please note that politics is not an important subject for us. Protecting Hindu Dharma is important for us. I am going to work for the protection of Hindu Dharma; otherwise, the coming time will not forgive us. Eliminate those coming for your conversions, and I will take care of the Police.

5. The Municipal Commissioner, District Collector, Chief Officer – Zilha Parishad, and District Police Chief should declare a list of all unauthorised prayer houses in Sangli district, as soon as possible and on the third day, such prayer houses should be demolished. Then, we will felicitate them in this ‘chowk’ in the presence of 10,000 locals; else, you have to be prepared to face Hindus. Why should only Hindus abide by the law? If a person has a Government job based on reservations under Hindu Dharma, and they are following a different religion, they should be dismissed.

Dignitaries participating in the protest march

BJP’s Pruthviraj Pawar, Prakash Dhang, Rajesh Deshmane; devout Hindu activists Raju Shinde, Urmila Belvalkar, Smita Pawar, Geetanjali Dhope-Patil, Rupali Adsul, Satish Ballal, chief of women’s wing- Dhangar community  – Mrs Vaishali Dudhal, Santosh Desai of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), etc., participated in the candle march.

1. All participating devout Hindu activists were carrying placards with matter written on them: ‘Didn’t change her religion though gave up life’; ‘Stop Hindus’ conversions’; ‘Proof of Rajage family following Christianity’.

2. There Police security was heightened during the march.

3. Police video-recorded the whole march.