The UP government's controversial anti-conversion law has transformed the state into "the epicentre of politics of hate, division and bigotry", 104 former IAS officers have written to CM Yogi Adityanath. The signatories include former NSA Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and former Adviser to the PM TKA Nair. Citing recent media reports of harassment of inter-faith couples, the officers have demanded that the "illegal ordinance be withdrawn forthwith". The signatories also said all politicians, including the Chief Minister, need to "re-educate yourselves about the Constitution which you... have sworn to uphold".
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," they added.