Muslim guards barred from Navratri events? row in Telangana

Hyderabad: Allegations that Muslim private security personnel are being denied jobs at Dandiya celebrations in Telangana ahead of Navratri have triggered a fierce political controversy, exposing growing tensions over religious discrimination in employment, a report by India Today said.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly condemned the alleged exclusion, accusing event organisers of yielding to pressure from extremist groups. He urged people across Telangana to unite against divisive forces and called for strict police action to prevent communal polarisation.

Suspended BJP MLA T. Raja Singh, however, backed organisers’ reported decision to employ only Hindu security personnel at Hindu festivities. In a video message challenging Owaisi’s intervention, Singh questioned his authority to dictate staffing decisions at such events.

Singh also alleged that Hindus were denied employment and access during Muslim festivals. He further claimed that deploying Muslim security guards at Dandiya events contributed to an increase in so-called love jihad cases. He warned that events employing security personnel from other religions would face opposition.

As the dispute escalated, representatives of private security agencies in Hyderabad and an association of Hindu and Muslim security workers held a press conference appealing for equal employment opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Mohammed Firoz argued that individuals should face legal action for any wrongdoing rather than an entire community being denied work. He said his team had employed 10 security personnel from other religious communities for five years, stressing that recruitment should be based on professional competence rather than religious identity.

The controversy has intensified the debate over communal discrimination and equal access to employment as Telangana prepares for Navratri celebrations.