‘Entry of Jihadis strictly prohibited’: Hindu outfit puts up banners at garba venue

Members of a Hindu organization have put up controversial banners at a garba venue in the Awadhpuri area of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh reading: reading: ‘Entry of Jihadis strictly prohibited in Garba Pandals’.

The banners put up by the ‘Shri Krishna Seva Samiti’ coincide with the beginning of festivities and garba events with the onset of Navratri on Monday.

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The controversial banners bear the message, ‘Entry of Jihadis strictly prohibited in garba pandals. If caught, you will be made to do ‘ghar wapsi’ (revert to Hindu religion), and if you refuse to do so, you will be properly treated with images of shoes, chappals, and sticks on display to make the intention of the message clear.

The Hindu outfit has made five conditions mandatory for everyone entering the garba pandals. These include, tilak on the forehead, kalawa (sacred thread) on the right wrist, Aadhar card as identity verification, consuming ganga jal or cow urine at entry, and folding hands in front of the photos of Varaha Devi and Goddess Durga.

Several members of the Hindu organization, armed with wooden sticks, also raised slogans along with the banners.

Defending the controversial move, Shri Krishna Seva Samiti President Gopal Tomar said, “Those who respect Sanatan Dharma, honour women as mothers and accept Goddess as a deity, are welcome. These rules have been laid down to stop those who insult traditions of Sanatan Dharma, and try to disrupt Hindu festivities.”