Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that "political Islam" is a serious threat that seeks to change India’s "demography" and pointed out that while our ancestors fought against this danger, it is rarely discussed now. He said that although British and French colonialism are often mentioned in history, there is very little discussion about "political Islam".

Speaking at an event in Gorakhpur to mark the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s centenary celebrations, Adityanath said that leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh, Maharana Pratap and Maharana Sanga had fought against "political Islam". He said, "Our ancestors waged major struggles against political Islam, yet this aspect of history remains largely overlooked."

He added that "political Islam" continues to attempt to divide India and referred to the Chhangur Baba case in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh. Chhangur Baba, also known as Jalaluddin Shah, was a self-styled godman who was arrested in July for allegedly running an illegal religious conversion racket.

Adityanath said that "political Islam" is operating through people like Chhangur Baba to break the nation. He said, "RSS is trying to unite the society to safeguard against such threats, and its attempts deserve praise."

He went on to criticise Halal certification and said that Chhangur Baba was offering money to people based on their caste in exchange for religious conversion. He said, "And where is the money coming from? You will not even know the source of the money. It is not coming from any other country. It is coming from you."

He urged people to be cautious while shopping and said, "When you buy something, make sure to check if it has the Halal certification. We have banned it in Uttar Pradesh. You will be surprised, soap, clothes, and matchsticks are also certified as halal."

The Chief Minister claimed that around Rs 25,000 crore had been collected in the country in the name of Halal certification without any approval from the Centre or state governments. He said, "All this money is misused for terrorism, love jihad, and religious conversion. That is why Uttar Pradesh has started a big campaign against it."

Adityanath urged people to check products before purchasing and added that Chhangur Baba was only a "sample". He said, "Such Jalaluddins must be hiding around you. Keep an eye on them."

He explained that a Halal-certified product refers to an item or service that follows Islamic law and is allowed for Muslims to use. In India, Halal certification is done by private organisations and is not compulsory.

Adityanath also targeted Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks on the state government’s Deepotsav celebrations for Diwali. He said, "He asked what the need was to light lamps? In other words, he has hatred towards Deepavali. Till now, we used to think that he had a hatred towards the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and other Hindu pilgrimage sites."

He said Yadav would not have made such a "childish statement" if he understood the struggles of the Prajapati community, which includes many potters whose products are in high demand during the festival.

Taking another jibe at Yadav, Adityanath said, "It is said that one may inherit the throne, but not the brain. For that, efforts have to be made. For some people, childishness stays with them throughout their lives." He also called Akhilesh Yadav a "traitor to festivals of Sanatan Dharma."