‘Left some luggage in America’: Oppn targets RSS chief after VHP’s Muslim garba ban in Maharashtra
New Delhi: Opposition leaders on Sunday took aim at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) decision to bar Muslims from garba and dandiya events in Maharashtra, with one MP suggesting he had “left some of his luggage in America” along with the inclusive message he delivered there.
The VHP, an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar, announced that Muslims would not be allowed to take part in Navratri garba-dandiya functions across the state and issued guidelines for organisers to “verify and identify” the Hindu identity of participants, including checks on Aadhaar cards and applying tilak on foreheads at entry points. VHP national spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair said the organisation had taken a “decision of not allowing participation of Muslims in garba-dandiya dance during the Navratri festival”, describing the measures as “precautionary”.
The opposition’s remarks came in response to Bhagwat’s address at the “One World, One Humanity” faith leaders’ conference in New York, where he said a Hindu who believes Muslims should have no place in India “ceases to be a Hindu” and asserted that Hindutva recognises the dignity of every human being. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, speaking to IANS, criticised the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying it appeared that governance had been “outsourced” to the VHP.
“Probably he left some of his luggage in America and, along with it, all those things that he spoke there have also been left behind in that country. He should bring that luggage back and make his people understand,” Jha said, referring to Bhagwat. “Please don’t mess with the character of this country,” he added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut echoed the criticism, questioning who had authorised the VHP to present itself as a religious authority on garba. “Mohan Bhagwat ji travels abroad and speaks about how there should be no differences between Hindus and Muslims in our country, whether political, cultural or religious. He even said that any Hindu who believes Muslims should be driven out of India ceases to be a Hindu… and here people linked to him are resorting to all these,” Raut said. He urged the RSS chief to comment on the issue, adding that “giving different statements in India and New York won’t work”.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy condemned the VHP’s move as “completely communal”, describing garba as a cultural festival in which anyone should be free to participate. The Navratri festival is scheduled to begin on 11 October.
(Inputs from IANS)