Controversy over entry inside the Garaba venue got murkier a day before the commencement of Navaratri as Imam Mehandi Hasan, who termed Navaratri as festival of demons, was slapped by an angry Hindu devotee at a local court compound on Wednesday.
Imam was arrested on Tuesday evening under section 295 C of IPC by Gujarat police following a complaint against him. On Wednesday when he was brought to a court in Thasara town in Central Gujarat, a young person identified as Rakesh Patel slapped him forcefully. Following a sudden attack, Imam lost balance and fell on the ground. However, police immediate took control of the situation and nabbed Patel and two others and later on arrested them.
later on the controversial Imam was presented before the court. He demanded for bail but the court rejected his plea and sent him to judicial custody. Nearly 250 Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers also throng to Thasara court compound and sought slogans to protest statements of Imam on religious Navaratri festival.
Hasan came into limelight during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sadbhavana function in 2011, when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister after offering a skull cap to him. His act erupted controversy at that time as Modi refused to don the cap. Now again he created yet another controversy by saying that Garba is not a religious event, but it is entertainment for rakshash (demons).
The Muslim religious leaders’ statement came in the backdrop of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announcement to restrict entry of Muslims in the Garba venues across the State. He also said that generally drunkard and rapists attends Garba functions during Navratri.
Denouncing Imam’s statement fuming VHP leaders demanded to arrest Hussain with immediate effect under Prevention of Anti Social Activities’ Act (PASA). Another VHP leader Mahant Akhileshwardas reiterated that VHP would deploy its own intelligence bureau (IB) to restrict Muslims to enter in the Garaba venues. Apart from private organizers, Gujarat government supported Vibrant Gujarat Navaratri Mahotsav has also been conducted and VHP leaders have also warned the organizers to restrict Muslims to attend the event.
Earlier a Godhra based rightwing group — Hindu Asmita Heet Rakshak Samiti had demanded to block entry of Muslims at Garaba venues and asked the organizers to follow its diktat. According to the Group, Muslims implements their agenda of ‘love Jihad’ during revelries and seduce Hindu women.
Some of the Muslim leaders in the communally sensitive Godhara town also appealed that the no community members should visit Garaba venue as they are treated as ‘unwanted’. The announcement was made after a special prayer of Friday. There should no provocation from Muslims to disturb Navaratri festival, said Rafique Tijoriwala, a Godhra based Muslim leader Rafique Tijoriwala. Navaratri is commencing from Thursday September 25.