A franchise fashion institute of a beauty company in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Moradabad has been embroiled in controversy for encouraging forced Islamic conversion. The Hindu girls training at the fashion institute have complained to the District Magistrate, levelling serious allegations against the director.
They allege that the director of the fashion institute pressurizes them to befriend Muslim youths and marry them. There are also allegations of harassment if they do not do so. The girls training for the beauty course have complained about this to the DM and demanded action.
The students said that Rakshanda Khan, the director of the fashion institute located in front of Harthala police station on Kanth Road, says, “There is no problem in marrying Muslim boys. I was also a Hindu earlier. I married a Muslim. Now I have left Hinduism and become a Muslim and am very happy in a Muslim family.”
The students have demanded the cancellation of the fashion institute’s registration and action against Rakshanda Khan. However, reportedly, when an attempt was made to talk to the director by News 18 in this matter, she refused to answer.
Serious allegations against the director of the fashion institute
On Monday (22 July 2024), Tanya Chaudhary and Swati Pal, who study at the fashion institute, reached the District Magistrate’s office with another student. They alleged that Sapna alias Rakshanda Khan incites Hindu girls to befriend Muslim boys and marry them after converting to Islam. She is accused of deliberately keeping Hindu girls in groups with Muslim boys.
According to the Dainik Bhaskar report, in the complaint given to the District Magistrate, the Hindu students further said, “Lakme Academy located on Kanth Road teaches makeup, hair and skin treatment. Many different courses are running for this. Almost all the boys in the academy are Muslims, and most of the girls are Hindus. They encourage them to make friends with these Muslim boys. Rakshanda Khan has started a campaign for this.”
The owner and director of the fashion institute is Sapna. She converted to Islam and became Rakshanda Khan after she married a Muslim man. Rakshanda tells the Hindu students, “I was also a Hindu earlier, but now I am a Muslim. I am living in a Muslim’s house. There is no problem in marrying Muslim boys.” The students say that their names are forcibly linked with Muslim boys.
A student named Tanya Chaudhary said, “At the time of admission, we were told that meat and fish are completely prohibited in the academy, but Muslim boys bring meat and fish here every day and eat in front of everyone.”
Another student, Swati Pal, said, “Rakshanda abuses the Hindu religion.” Students say that Hindu girls who do not obey her are harassed in various ways. Rakshanda Khan has banned Hindu students from wearing bindi, tika, and sindoor on the forehead and mangalsutra around the neck. If any married girl comes wearing a mangalsutra and sindoor, she does not allow her to enter the institute. On the other hand, Muslim students and Muslim trainers have the freedom to offer namaaz in the academy itself.”
DM orders investigation
DM Anuj Singh said that the young men and women taking training have made serious allegations against the institute. The complaint is being investigated. Further action will be taken according to the facts revealed by the investigation.
Moradabad police also posted about this incident on the social media site X (formerly Twitter). Responding to a user’s post about this incident, Moradabad police wrote, “Station in-charge Civil Lines has been directed to investigate/take necessary action.”
Accused Rakshanda Khan, a repeat offender?
Reportedly, a year ago, a boy named Raj Rana also accused Rakshanda Khan of pressuring him to convert. The student said that Rakshanda preaches Islam instead of teaching. The student alleged, “Rakshanda says that if Islam is not good, then why do so many Hindus visit tombs? Why is there not so much uproar when a Muslim girl converts and becomes a Hindu?”
Rakshanda Khan is originally from Kanpur’s Saket Nagar. She was born into a Hindu family, and her original name was Sapna. She has five sisters and one brother. She is the youngest among the sisters. About 17 years ago, she fell in love with a Muslim boy named Shahnawaz Khan and married him. For this, she left Hindu Dharma and converted to Islam.
(Featured Image Source: Dainik Bhaskar)
Cunning slave of intolerant religion to which she converted.