Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh urged the state government take note of the VHP directive “because such extremist positions could potentially create a law-and-order situation”
Because such extremist positions could potentially create a law-and-order situation,” added Shaikh, the state government should take note of this directive.
Mumbai: A day after Vishwa Hindu Parishad ’s (VHP) call to bar Muslims from taking part in garba and dandiya events during next month’s Navratri festival across Maharashtra and setting “guidelines” for the organisers to verify the Hindu identity of participants, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh alleged that increasing hatred against Muslims is the agenda of VHP and Bajrang Dal and urged Mahayuti government to prevent such activities. Pointing out that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had recently stated in New York that “a Hindu who says he does not want Muslims, is not a Hindu”, Shaikh remarked: “While issuing its fatwa seeking to ban Muslims from garba-dandiya events, VHP appears to have ignored Bhagwat’s statement. However, VHP and Bajrang Dal are deliberately targeting Muslims,” said Shaikh.
“This is cultural policing by VHP and Bajrang Dal. VHP’s ‘fatwa’ banning Muslims is against the Indian Constitution. Putting forward one set of views while acting in the opposite manner has been the policy of RSS and BJP so far. “Festivals bring harmony to society. In India, there is a tradition of people from other religions participating in each other’s festivals. People from other communities happily participate in Eid and Ramadan celebrations.