Muslim leaders and Hindu saints on Friday, 12 June voiced support for the Ghaziabad administration's directive in Uttar Pradesh making police verification and identity cards mandatory for gym trainers, arguing the measure will curb criminal activity and prevent illegal religious conversions. The move has drawn rare cross-community backing, with clerics and temple heads alike calling it a common-sense safeguard.

Why Religious Leaders Are Backing the Order

Indian Sufi Foundation President Kashish Warsi said the verification requirement addresses a genuine security gap. 'No work should be done by concealing one's identity. It is a good decision because it is possible that a criminal conceals his identity and starts working as gym trainer. In that case, his identity verification will be useful so nobody should have any objection to it,' Warsi said. He also cautioned against politicising the issue, adding: 'Politics should not be done over this issue.'

Maulana Mufti Mohammad Sajid Qasmi backed the Uttar Pradesh government's move to verify both qualifications and identities of gym trainers and operators. 'Aadhaar card and other identity documents must be checked whether the concerned person should be allowed or not,' he said. Drawing a professional parallel, Qasmi noted: 'If a doctor does not have a degree, he cannot run a clinic. Similarly, only if a gym trainer's identity is verified and he is proven capable of running a gym, he can do so.'

Key Voices and Their Demands

All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi also endorsed the verification drive, while additionally calling for gender-segregated gym facilities. 'Males should not be allowed to enter female-only gyms and vice-versa. With such a system in place, nobody will be able to complain. The Shariat also prescribes for such an arrangement,' he said.

Mahant Sitaram Das of Ayodhya's Saket Bhavan temple welcomed the order and called for its wider application. 'All gyms should be inspected, and gym trainers should also be verified. It should be known which community, faith, or religion they belong to,' he said. He alleged that instances of women being 'influenced toward religious conversion through gyms' had been repeatedly observed, describing the administration's directive as 'commendable.' He further appealed for similar orders across other establishments to protect what he termed 'Sanatan culture.'

Sant Varun Dasji Maharaj alleged that 'gyms are being used for love jihad' and urged strict enforcement of the verification order.

What the Ghaziabad Order Requires

The Ghaziabad district administration's directive mandates that all gym trainers undergo police verification and carry valid identity cards. The order is framed as a public safety and credential-check measure, though it has also been welcomed by those citing concerns about religious conversion. This comes amid a broader pattern of similar administrative orders in Uttar Pradesh targeting identity verification across various service sectors.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The Ghaziabad order reflects an ongoing trend in UP where local administrations have issued directives touching on identity, religion, and public order — often drawing both support and scrutiny. Critics and civil liberties observers have not yet formally responded to this particular directive. Whether similar orders will be extended to other districts or professions, as some religious leaders have demanded, will depend on the state government's next steps. The administration has not publicly detailed enforcement timelines or penalties for non-compliance.