The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the Gujarat government to ensure that "love jihadis" do not enter garba pandals during the Navratri festival. It further added that those providing services at the Navratri events should not be from the Muslim community.
Speaking on the matter, VHP's General Secretary Surendra Jain said, "Garba is an occasion to offer worship to Goddess. Some `jihadis' misuse such occasions. I would like to appeal to all the organisers of garba that pandal-walas (those who construct pandals), catering service people or members of security services should not be Muslim, and they should allow entry to any person only after checking ID card and Aadhaar card."
He said that it's the responsibility of the Gujarat government to ensure "nobody tries to turn the pious event of garba into a love jihad target."
"We will stop them, but there is a possibility of unrest. The government should ensure that law and order is maintained and love jihadis do not get close to the venues," Jain said.
The VHP leader further said that the "anti love jihad act" was not being enforced properly.
The Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2021, penalises forcible or fraudulent religious conversion through marriage. The Gujarat High Court has stayed some provisions of the law.
With inputs from PTI
ALSO READ | PM Modi's home state Gujarat to give all 26 seats to BJP again: India TV-CNX Poll
ALSO READ | Gujarat to emerge as USD 1 trillion economy by 2030: CM Bhupendra Patel
