Garba events in Chhattisgarh and Gujarat spark outrage after right-wing groups disrupt venues
New Delhi: Navratri celebrations turned tense across venues in Chhattisgarh and Gujarat on Wednesday after right-wing activists disrupted garba events over the entry of non-Hindu attendees. In Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, a celebration descended into chaos and physical altercations, while a high-profile event in Ahmedabad saw an anchor publicly instruct Muslims and non-Hindus to vacate the premises.
The trouble in Durg began at a local ground after an NSUI office-bearer, Adil Khan, shared promotional material online offering free entry passes to the public. As the dance celebrations were underway on Wednesday night, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) arrived at the venue and forced their way onto the main stage to protest the presence of Muslim youth.
A heated argument quickly turned physical, with videos circulating on social media showing Congress district president and former mayor Dheeraj Bakliwal being pushed around on stage. Bakliwal stated that the gathering was completely open to everyone free of cost. In contrast, VHP leader Ramlochan Tiwari argued against allowing Muslim participants into garba functions and demanded strict identification checks at the gates. Local police have registered a case following a complaint by the organisers and are reviewing CCTV footage to trace those involved in the scuffle.
Ahmedabad stage announcement triggers backlash
A parallel controversy unfolded in Gujarat at a high-end Ahmedabad venue on Shela Road hosting the ‘Rang Morla’ event. The event featured renowned Gujarati folk singer Aditya Gadhvi, who later distanced himself from the incident after the on-stage host made an exclusionary announcement.
Video footage showed the event’s anchor, RJ Akash Trivedi, speaking into the microphone and asking non-Hindus to exit immediately. “A humble request to any ‘vidharmi’ (non-Hindus) and Muslims to leave the ground. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come here to protect Sanatan Dharma,” Trivedi announced, telling attendees to report “suspicious people” to helpline numbers.
VHP Defends Ground Inspections
The announcement prompted folk singer Aditya Gadhvi to issue a clarification, stating agency PTI that he had nothing to do with the remarks made from the stage.
Gujarat VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput defended the intervention, describing it as regular practice during Navratri. Rajput stated that Bajrang Dal volunteers routinely coordinate with garba organisers across Ahmedabad to keep non-Hindus out, often applying tilak on men’s foreheads at the gates and removing individuals they consider suspicious from the grounds.