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Muslims not allowed in garbas in Godhra

Last Updated 18 September 2014, 20:30 IST

Navratri might just be a few days away but the diktats for the organisers are already out.  In the communally-sensitive Godhra, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has already issued a diktat saying that the Muslim youths cannot participate in the garba events there.

Similar diktats have been issued by leaders in other parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh and the VHP here wants to ensure that Gujarat does not remain an exception.  So, a newly floated body Hindu Asmita Hitrakshak Samiti has warned garba organisers that  their venue would face action if Muslim youths were spotted during Navratri. The nine-day Navratri festival begins on September 25.

Senior VHP leader in Godhra, Ashish Bhatt said, “There is nothing wrong in this kind of a diktat, after all Navratri is about religion and what will Muslim youths do in such venues.” Bhatt said the Muslim youths had no business to be present in such religious events of the Hindus and add up to the chaos.

Meanwhile, P B Baria, one of the organisers of Adhya Shakti garba said: “We have not received any diktat in writing but yes, there is a message and we see no harm in following them.” He said that there is a ban only for youths, those who want to visit with their families were most welcome.

Another organiser said that Muslim youths come for the events because in some venues there were Muslim sponsors as well. “As sponsors they give passes for the events to the young boys of the community and amidst such diktats most of them were pulling out even as sponsors,’’ said the organiser.

He said for his event too a lot of banners were sponsored by a Muslim businessman, but after the diktat he had pulled out. Because of this, the whole financial burden was on him (the organiser). He, however, agreed that the diktat did not prevent families from coming to venues.

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(Published 18 September 2014, 20:30 IST)

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