Vishwa Hindu Parishad

non-Hindus

garba venues

Gujarat

revellers

With Navratri just round the corner, thehas issued a diktat warningagainst coming toinand harassing women. The Hindu outfit has also announced that if a non-Hindu is caught at a garba venue during Navratri, they will be purified the ‘Hindu way’ (using Ganga jal, gau mutra and vermillion tilak). Surprisingly, this diktat will not be applicable to garba events organized by clubs as “they are not conducted as per Hindu traditions,” a member of the outfit’s said.VHP’s Gujarat general secretary Ranchhod Bharwad said, “Navratri is not a government festival. It is a religious one, so not everyone is welcome to celebrate it. It is a Hindu festival and hence we won’t allow non-Hindus at the garba venues. The non-Hindu youths come and harass Hindu girls. If anyone is caught at these venues, we will purify them using Ganga jal, gau mutra and vermillion. In short, they must become Hindus to enjoy the Navratri festival.”VHP has a unique way of identifying the non-Hindus from the Hindus. Explaining their way, Bharwad said, “Hindus are such enlightened people that they are easy to identify the non-Hindus among them. We will coordinate with the police and seek help from the Hindu public. However, we will be present only at Sheri garba venues and won’t be present at Club garbas as they don’t represent traditional Hindu garba.”The nationalist outfit has also objected to concerns raised against ‘Hindu festivals’ in the name of environment, pollution and cruelty against animals. Justifying their stand, they said, “If Hindu festivals are harming animals, then why is no one objecting to Bakri Eid when thousands of goats are killed?”Attacking the activists, Bharwad said, “Only Hindu festivals are targeted in the name of pollution, environment etc. Recently, Ganesh festival was opposed in the name of pollution caused by POP idols. Similarly, Uttarayan, Navratri and Diwali are opposed because they apparently harm animals and birds.”VHP is in no mood to spare even the non-Hindu celebs. The outfit trained its guns at Bollywood’s superstar Shah Rukh Khan, accusing him being only “selectively helpful”. Outfit’s spokesperson Jay Shah said, “Recently, when there was a tragedy in Mecca, Khan came forward and donated a large sum. But we don’t see him being so large hearted when it comes to other disasters like an earthquake or floods. He is only selectively helpful.”