Increasing hatred against Muslims part of VHP agenda: SP MLA on Navratri diktat

Thane, Sep 6 (PTI) Increasing hatred against Muslims is the agenda of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh said on Sunday after the Hindu outfit "banned" Muslims from attending 'dandiya' and 'garba' events related to Navratri.

The VHP on Saturday said it has decided to bar Muslims from taking part in 'garba' and 'dandiya' events during next month's Navratri festival across Maharashtra, and also set "guidelines" for organisers to verify the Hindu identity of participants, including checking Aadhaar cards and applying 'tilak' on foreheads. The Navratri festival will begin on October 11.

In a release, Shaikh said, "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. However, the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are deliberately targeting Muslims."

He also claimed the VHP had ignored RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent statement in New York that "a Hindu who says he does not want Muslims is not a Hindu".

Putting forward one set of views while acting in the opposite manner has been the policy of the RSS and BJP, the SP MLA added.