Athawale hits out at VHP move to bar Muslims from Navratri garba events

Union minister Ramdas Athawale has publicly opposed the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) directive to prevent Muslim participation in Navratri garba and dandiya programmes across Maharashtra, arguing that such a move undermines constitutional principles.

Speaking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur on Wednesday, Athawale asserted that India's framework, as laid out in the Constitution drafted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, ensures justice for all religious communities. He stressed that the nation is home to Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and others, and that the Constitution protects every faith.

"It is not good to say that Muslims should not attend garba," the Republican Party of India (A) chief said, adding that Hindu and Muslim communities must unite for the country's progress.

The controversy stems from the VHP's decision to restrict Muslim attendance at the traditional dance festivals in Maharashtra during the ten-day Navratri period. The organisation has issued guidelines for event organisers, including checking Aadhaar cards and applying tilak on attendees' foreheads for identity verification.

VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair had earlier defended the move, stating the festival is primarily about worshipping the Goddess rather than mere entertainment, and questioned why Muslims, who oppose idol worship, should participate. He maintained the decision was not directed against any community and reaffirmed the group's commitment to social harmony.

Athawale countered this reasoning by citing the example of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, which attracts numerous Hindu visitors. He emphasised that India's tradition involves people of different faiths taking part in each other's festivals, and labelled the VHP's stance as unconstitutional.

The VHP's position has found support from Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane, who alleged that instances of "love jihad" tend to rise during such festivals and backed the proposed identity checks.