How saffron groups are ‘pushing out’ non-Hindus of Navratri events

On October 14, an upscale Navratri event featuring celebrity folk singer Aditya Gadhvi was marred by controversy when the event anchor announced the voluntary exit of non-Hindus and Muslims from the grounds. Gadhvi, known for his rendition of "Khalasi" on Coke Studio Bharat, distanced himself from the incident, claiming that a group had taken over the backstage and that neither he nor the anchor were consulted or involved.

The anchor, Akash Trivedi, also issued a statement, saying he only spoke for the organizers and not his own opinion. The incident sparked outrage, prompting police investigations and protests from local authorities.

This is not the first such event; similar incidents have occurred in Vadodara, Surat, and Bhavnagar. In Vadodara, VHP workers accused a worker named Razzak Pathan of mismatched identity documents, leading to his arrest. At a different event in Vadodara, signs prohibiting tilak (a Hindu mark) were posted, and at a Kiran Medical College and Hospital garba event in Surat, organisers vowed to keep Muslims out of the festivities.

In Bhavnagar, a confrontation between AHP and other groups led to the detention of over 40 individuals protesting the hiring of Muslim musicians. Despite numerous such incidents, UNESCO's recognition of garba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage emphasizes its role in fostering social equality and inclusivity.