New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal have announced setting up a dedicated helpline for women to report harassment and check the cases of so-called ‘love jihad’ at Garba events during Navratri in Gujarat. They also said they will conduct inspections and thoroughly check the identity of those entering Garba pandals.
In Surat, the Bajrang Dal has also asked Garba organisers to ensure those performing on the stage during the festivity are not scantily clad. Surat Bajrang Dal district president Jay Patel said females attending Garba events should refrain from wearing ‘backless’ and ‘deep neck’ clothes and maintain the sanctity of the place.
He said their effort is to reach the spot even before the police once they receive a call on the helpline number. “Three separate helpline numbers will be announced—for north, south and Saurashtra pranth. More details on it will be provided later. As far as our jurisdiction is concerned, we will be launching the helpline for South Gujarat. Our effort will be to reach before the police though we will also inform the police immediately once we receive any complaint,” Patel said.
“We will be supporting the law-enforcement agencies fully,” he added.
Navratri this year falls between 22 September and 2 October.
Giving details about the helpline in Surat, Patel said a team of 150 people comprising 90 women and 60 men will be tasked to respond to such calls, and reach Garba pandals and adjoining areas once they receive any such call.
“We will work in tandem with the police and if we reach before the police we will then handover the culprits to the police,” he added.
Over the past few years, there have been violence, disruptions and police action at and around Garba folk dance events, the mainstay of the nine-day festival of Navratri, with allegations that Muslim youths were allegedly trying to enter these venues. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal have been at the forefront of highlighting this issue with their workers apparently keeping a watch during the dance events in Gujarat.
Hindu women are the target during such programmes and fears of love jihad and concerns over “women’s security” during Garba events were the reason behind the launch of the helpline, Patel said.
“We have been noticing that during Garba celebration some anti-social elements and Muslims try to trap Hindu sisters and daughters in ‘love jihad’. Our workers will be present at the venue and will carry out surprise inspections. Those who talk about communal harmony should also answer why don’t they bring their wives and daughters to these Garba pandals? A thorough check will be conducted to check the identity of those entering these pandals,” he added.
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‘Why no Garba at their own religious places’
In Surat district especially, the VHP and Bajrang Dal have announced a slew of measures including carrying out surprise inspections of Garba grounds.
“If communal unity is to be maintained then Salman should also bring his wife or sisters Salma to pay Garba too. Why don’t they organise Garba at their own religious places? They trap our Hindu sisters by hiding their true identity and by the time truth is revealed it is too late,” he added.
Asked if such a helpline will be announced for other states too, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the view of the organisation is very clear on the matter that those “who have faith in the religion should be allowed here”.
“This is not a tourist place, Navratri is linked to our religion and culture,” he said. “Why do they want to go to these Garba pandals? What is their agenda? If they really want to attend it then they should come with their families…their wives, daughters and should clearly identify themselves.”
He also pointed out that every year the local VHP and Bajrang Dal in Gujarat announce several initiatives. “To maintain the purity, sanctity, and religious atmosphere of the place and for overall law and order, the administration has in the past also announced several initiatives,” he added.
Bansal further said the demand for introducing such initiatives is in fact coming from society now. “People have seen how impersonating as Hindus, many Muslim men trap our girls and then they are found in a blue drum. We are clear about not letting non-believers attend our religious programmes as is also followed by them. In fact, they don’t even allow their women to visit mosques but are keen to attend Garba,” he said.
In Gujarat’s Ahmedabad in the past, Bajrang Dal members had allegedly assaulted Muslim men trying to enter Garba venues.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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