India News

Hindu right-wing groups' yearly attempt to keep other communities out of garba venues has taken a new form this year -attendees at functions in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, are being sprinkled with cow urine at the entrance.

Launched by Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Navratri initiative has found few takers among Hindu participants too. Devduttsinh Raol, an IT professional based in Gandhinagar, has lodged a complaint with the police against the practice. 

A group of youth with saffron scarves sprinkled 'gau mutra' on the techie, when he arrived at a garba venue with his wife and brother in law. “They also misbehaved with my wife when I tried to intervene,“ he said in his written complaint.

Reacting to the complaint, Gandhinagar superintendent of police Virendra Singh Yadav said, “All garba organisers have been asked ..to arrange for private security. If we are alerted on time, we will offer quick intervention.

Shaktisinh Zala, president of Bajrang Dal's Gandhinagar unit, on the other hand, said, "The initiative was aimed at preventing Hindu girls from becoming victims of 'love jihad'. No true Hindu opposes it." 

"We only target venues where non-Hindus tend to go," said Jay Shah, spokesperson for VHP, Gujarat.