As the vibrant Navaratri festival approaches, suspended BJP leader and Goshamahal constituency MLA, Raja Singh, has ignited a heated debate by cautioning garba event organizers in Hyderabad against welcoming non-Hindu attendees.This divisive stance has sparked widespread discussion and concern among the community.
In a letter bearing his name, Raja Singh urged garba organizers within the Goshamahal constituency to remain vigilant, preventing the entry of individuals engaged in what he referred to as “Love Jihad”.However, he refrained from specifying any particular community in question.The subject line of the letter plainly stated: “Requesting not to make entry of Non-Hindus at your Dandiya Nights event.”
In a similar vein, Laddu Yadav, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Hyderabad president (in-charge), who also identifies as a “Gau Rakshak” or protector of cows, took to social media to voice his sentiments.He emphasized that participants in dandiya nights should exclusively hail from the Hindu community.His call for stringent measures, from applying tilak (sacred mark) to verifying Aadhaar cards, underscored his concerns.
“We have received extensive information that cases of ‘Love Jihad’ and religious conversion come to the fore at this time,” he wrote in his post.“People who do not belong to our community or worship our god come to such events wearing saffron and other attires and call themselves Hindus.”
Raja Singh’s letter, distributed to over 10 different garba organizers, implored them to safeguard Hindu girls from perceived threats like “Love Jihad” and to restrict entry to garba venues to Hindus exclusively.Non-Hindus, regardless of their roles, were advised against accessing the garba pandals, including bouncers, security guards, DJ players, catering staff, musicians, and lighting personnel.
The letter went on to emphasize that Navratri Dandiya is a cultural festival rooted in the Hindu religion, dedicated to Goddess Durga.Singh called for a ritual tilak application and Aadhaar card checks for all event entrants, while urging organizers to ensure bouncers belonged to the Hindu community.
He stated unequivocally that their mission was to protect Hindu sisters from love jihad cases.
This controversial stance has sparked strong reactions from various quarters of civil society, with many questioning the narrative set by leaders like Raja Singh.
Advocate B Karthik Navayan emphasized that community celebrations should be inclusive, transcending religious boundaries.
In the midst of this heated debate, questions loom about the future of Navaratri celebrations in Hyderabad.
As the festival approaches, the city grapples with deeper questions of inclusivity, tolerance, and the role of cultural exchange in a diverse society.
