An Aligarh-based right-wing group, the Hindu Jagaran Samiti, on Thursday announced the “biggest ever” conversion programme in the country on December 25.

The announcement was immediately welcomed by BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath, and party MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam, who are expected to attend the programme.

“A number of people who had earlier left the fold of Hinduism will be reconverted at a grand ceremony to be held in Aligarh on Christmas,” Rajeshwar Singh, the regional in-charge of the Hindu Jagaran Samiti, told The Hindu over phone.

“It is not conversion as the media is branding it. A large number of citizens of this country had earlier left Hinduism due to enticement and fear. Now, they are coming back to their original faith. It is a ‘ghar vapsi’ for them,” he said.

“People from different districts of western Uttar Pradesh wanting to return to their original faith would participate.”

“Christian missionaries have been doing large-scale illegal conversion in the country. Christian families coming back into the Hindu fold also means rejection of the faith which was forced on them. Aligarh had a Hindu past. It is time we take control of our history and the city,” added Mr. Singh, who claimed to be a pracharak.

By evening, there were reports that Mr. Singh was under pressure to cancel the programme. When The Hindu tried to contact him, his phone was found switched off.