Muslim youths barred at garba venues in Godhra
VADODARA: Barely 10 days before the nine-day dance festival kicks off in Gujarat, a rightwing group that identifies itself as Hindu Asmita Heet Rakshak Samiti (HAHRS) has issued a diktat in Godhra that Muslim youths should not be allowed to enter garba venues in the town to counter 'love Jihad'.
The samiti claims that it issued the diktat as Muslim youths enter garba venues to lure Hindu girls.
On Saturday , VHP leader Dr Pravin Togadia had called for the same in Amreli and said that identity cards of every person should be checked."We will contact all garba organizers in Gujarat and across the country to request them to check the identity of all youths. Navratri is a religious festival and Muslims should not be allowed here," Togadia told TOI.
"Muslim boys luring Hindu girls at garba venues has always remained a problem in Godhra. If Muslims have problem with everything including singing `Vande Mataram', why should they be allowed at garba venues?" said Jaimin Shah, one of the leaders of HAHRS.
Some organizers have agreed to allow Muslim youths only if they are accompanied by their family. Accord ing to the samiti, they have also received support from major garba organizers in Godhra and formed a team of volunteers to stop Muslim youth.
"Around 1,500 members will keep a check at the venues," said Shah, adding that the group, which hasn't registered itself, is holding awareness meetings since over a fortnight.
"We won't allow any Muslim youth to our garba to avoid `love Jihad'," said P B Baria, organizer of Aadhya Shakti Garba Mahotsav, which draws a crowd of 35,000. "If they come with their families, they are disciplined. So, we will allow Muslim families inside the venue," he said.
"We don't want any kind of disturbance and hence we have agreed that we will not collect donation from Muslims nor issue passes," said K T Parikh, organizer of Maa Shakti Garba Group. "We, however have no means to check whether any Muslim or a Hindu is entering the garba venue."
Muslim youths barred at garba venues in Godhra - The Times of India
