MUMBAI: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided to bar Muslims from taking part in ‘garba’ and ‘dandiya’ events during next month’s Navratri festival across Maharashtra, and also set “guidelines” for the organisers to verify the Hindu identity of participants.These measures include checking the Aadhaar cards of attendees and applying ’tilak’ on their foreheads.The Navratri festival will begin on October 11.The opposition has asked whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat approved of VHP’s diktat.VHP spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair said the organisation took the decision to prevent participation of Muslim community members in garba and dandiya events.Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut slammed VHP, saying it should listen to the recent speech of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New York and asked if they don’t agree with Bhagwat’s comments.Congress MLA Amin Patel said calling for a ban on Muslims from Navratri events is unconstitutional.Clyde Crasto, spokesperson of NCP (SP), said this diktat from VHP is bound to disturb peace and harmony.“We are often invited for dandiya and Navratri events out of goodwill. We also call members of other communities for Eid and Ramzan. This encourages communal harmony,” said Patel.“Does VHP not agree with his (Bhagwat’s) comments on the cultural relationship between Hindus and Muslims? The RSS chief has said that Hindus who hate Muslims in India cannot be true Hindus. Now Bhagwat should express his views on this,” said Raut.Maharashtra state minority commission chairman Pyare Khan said everyone has the right to celebrate festivals of one’s faith.“But saying that Muslims will not be allowed. Several organisations invite Muslims too. Festivals connect people, not divide them. If someone doesn’t want to call them, don’t call them. Nobody goes there forcibly anyway. People go when they are called with love,” said Khan.“We live in a society where we have co-existed in peace and harmony. The diktat from VHP is bound to disturb it. The question is what is the BJP government in Maharashtra going to do about this? Are they going to be mute and allow VHP to govern the law and order in the state? They should prove to the people of Maharashtra that nobody is above the law of the land by immediately taking action against this diktat by VHP,” said Crasto.Bhagwat, while addressing a gathering at Madison Square in New York, stressed the need for universal oneness and dignity for all people.“If any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslims in India, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself a Hindu, you have to believe that all paths are leading to the same goal. Every human has dignity,” Bhagwat said.VHP also issued guidelines for the organisers, including checking the Aadhaar cards of attendees and applying tilak on their foreheads as measures to verify their Hindu identity.
