By sabrangindia
India’s kaleidoscopic festivals, epitomized by the vibrant revelry of Navratri, weave a rich tapestry of diversity and harmony. Through joyful participation in Ramlila and Garba events, they bridge communal divides and foster warm interfaith exchanges.
However, a sinister thread of hatred and communal division has increasingly sought to weaken this fabric, as the sacred rhythms of Navratri has disrupted by the discordant notes of intolerance and division in few cities of BJP-ruling states Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The installation of posters and hoarding by right-wing outfits imposing ban on entry of non-Hindus in Navratri events and Garba Pandals leads to Muslim cleric to made request Muslim youth to not participate in Navratri events in Ratlam.
Muslim youth beaten by VHP members for ‘trying to enter’ Navratri event in UP
On October 4, 2024, in a tragic incident occured on Friday at Lajpat Bhavan in Swaroop Nagar in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district, a Muslim youth was allegedly beaten up by members of the right-wing extremist organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal at a Navratri event. In Swaroop Nagar.
According to the Hindustan Times, the video of incident shared on social media showed a man being beaten up while being questioned about his religion. Motijheel police outpost in-charge, Ravi Kumar, has lodged an FIR against unknown men for assaulting unidentified youngsters at the event, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Dinesh Tirpathi said on Saturday, October 5.
As per a report in the HT in a statement, Yuvraj Dwivedi, VHP’s district secretary (Kanpur North), claimed to have carried out checks at ‘Garba’ and ‘Dandia’ venues during the ongoing Navratri festival in the city to prevent people from other religions from participating in the celebrations.
This story was originally published in sabrangindia.in. Read the full story here.