The youth was allegedly assaulted after the organisers noticed that he had removed the tilak.
Following the incident, Singh told the media that the tilak was being applied to prevent incidents of what he described as “love jihad”. He said his organisation had no connection with them. NALASOPARA: A Muslim youth was allegedly assaulted and turned away from a Navratri garba event organised by BJP corporator Jayprakash Singh in Nalasopara East after he wiped off a tilak applied to his forehead at the venue. The incident has triggered a controversy after a video of the alleged assault went viral on social media. The garba event, organised by Singh’s New Sahyog Social Organisation at Oswal Nagari in Nalasopara East, is being held for the 12th consecutive year. This year, the organisers began applying tilak to men entering the venue and checking their Aadhaar cards. He later washed his face and wiped it off. He was allegedly assaulted after the organisers noticed that he had removed the tilak and was subsequently asked to leave the venue. However, after the video purportedly showing Yusuf being assaulted went viral, the incident sparked a controversy. Singh subsequently distanced himself from the practice, claiming that members of certain Hindutva organisations had entered the venue and were applying tilak to visitors.
On Wednesday night, a youth identified as Yusuf had a tilak applied to his forehead.
Stay updated with the latest Navi Mumbai news. Download the TOI App. On Friday, Singh said he had written to the deputy commissioner of police, requesting that members of Hindutva organisations be barred from entering the event.