By Aliza Noor
‘”Jihadis Not Allowed.”
These lines were part of a recent hoarding installed outside a Garba pandal by Shri Krishna Seva Samiti in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Members of this group stood guard with ganga jal and stated that it was “self-defence” against “love jihad.”
Narrative of ‘Garba Jihad,’ and cases of anti-Muslim hatred proliferated during Navratri this year, most cases reveal how Muslims were either barred from entering Garba events or singled out from such places.
For another year in a row, extremist Hindutva groups such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s national spokesperson Shriraj Nair told PTI in September that “only those having faith in the rituals must be allowed to participate.”
He added that the VHP had issued advisories directing garba organisers to check Aadhaar cards at entry points, apply ’tilak’ on participants, and ensure they perform puja before entering.
But hate has real-time consequences. In this piece, we write about some of these cases. Notably, this is not an exhaustive list as more cases continue to surface.
On 30 September, on Mira Road, Mumbai, Bajrang Dal members assaulted several Muslim attendees at the Lotus Navratri Garba event. Right-wing accounts were quick to label it ‘Garba Jihad.‘ Even News18 stated that restrictions have been placed for “Garba Jihadists.”
This story was originally published in thequint.com. Read the full story here.
