The 10-day event was canceled at the last moment after Hindu organizations objected to the inclusion of a Muslim person in the organizing committee of a Garba program in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This step has been taken after Bajrang Dal raised objection with the police.
The 10-day event was canceled at the last moment after Hindu organizations objected to the inclusion of a Muslim person in the organizing committee of a Garba program in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This step has been taken after Bajrang Dal raised objection with the police.
Local leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Rajesh Binjwe said that Bajrang Dal had said in the memorandum submitted to Bhanwarkuan police that Garba program is being organized in Ganesh Nagar allegedly with the aim of promoting ‘Love Jihad’ and spreading obscenity. He told that Bajrang Dal had demanded from the police that this program organized by a person named Firoz Khan should be banned.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia confirmed that the police had received a memorandum from Bajrang Dal against the proposed Garba program in Ganesh Nagar. He claimed that the organizers have not yet applied to the police for permission for this Garba event.
Dandotiya said that if any person approaches the police for permission for this Garba event, legal action will be taken.
Firoz Khan’s claim- Police had given permission for Garba program
On the other hand, Firoz Khan, one of the organizers of the program of Shikhar Garba Mandal of Ganesh Nagar, claimed that the police had given permission to his organization to organize a 10-day Garba program, but later some people put undue pressure on the owner of that land. As a result, they had to cancel the program at the place where Garba was to be held.
The only Muslim in the neighborhood, I celebrate Eid and Diwali together.
Firoz Khan said that we have been organizing Garba program in Ganesh Nagar for the last 36 years. I have been serving in Garba Pandal since childhood, but for the first time some people have problem with this Garba program because I am a Muslim. He said emotionally that those who have faced this problem, I request them to allow the Garba program to be organized so that 250 to 300 women who have been preparing for many days can perform Garba. If people have a problem with my name, I will not even step into the Garba pandal. Khan said that he is the only Muslim in his locality and celebrates Diwali along with Eid.
Organizers disappointed with cancellation of event
The organizers are disappointed with the cancellation of the Shikhar Garba Mandal program. Deepak Hardiya, one of the people who laid the foundation of this Garba Mandal, said that our Garba Pandal was decorated. We had also decided to install the idol of Goddess Durga in the pandal, but we do not want any controversy in the religious program, hence we have canceled the program by removing the Garba pandal.
Hardiya told that Firoz Khan is the only Muslim member of the organizing committee of his Garba Mandal and he has been participating in religious programs of Hindus since the age of eight.
Let us tell you, right-wing organizations use the term ‘Love Jihad’ to claim that Muslim men tempt women of other religions to convert to Islam.
