Lucknow: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday sought a blanket ban on the entry of non-Hindu youth at Nav Durga and Garba celebrations during the upcoming Navratri festival, in what is likely to intensify the debate over the participation of members of different communities in public religious festivities.VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the organisation would urge state govts and the organisers of Navratri and Garba events to restrict entry of youth from the non-Hindu community.VHP, he said, would also mobilise its cadres, particularly workers of Bajrang Dal, to keep a “hawk-eyed vigil” on the entry of people whom they consider suspicious. “These workers will help the organisers and the district administration in abating suspicious entry of people who have no faith in the Hindu religious events,” he said.Bansal alleged that at times non-Hindu men enter such venues with the intention of establishing contact with Hindu women and subsequently luring them into relationships. He linked such alleged instances to what VHP describes as “Love Jihad”.“This is a case of ‘Bhakti’ and ‘pooja’. Those who have no faith in such events and religious congregations should refrain from entering the venue,” Bansal said.VHP’s claims, however, have been the subject of considerable political and social controversy, with opponents of the campaign accusing the right-wing outfit of promoting communal suspicion.VHP’s proposed campaign comes ahead of Navratri, when large-scale Garba and Durga Puja-related events are organised across several states. Over the years, Garba celebrations in particular have emerged as major public cultural gatherings, attracting large numbers of young people and participants from different communities.The move is also likely to put state govts in a delicate position. While organisers of private events may impose conditions on entry, a blanket restriction based solely on religious identity could trigger questions relating to discrimination, constitutional rights and the legal status of such directions.
