After taking up cudgels on behalf of Buddhists on Mahabodhi Mahavihar Temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, the Modi minister slams the right-wing group’s advisory restricting garba events during Navratri to Hindus only
NEW DELHI — Ramdas Athawale, Republican Party of India leader and Union Minister of State for Social Justice, has become a nuisance to the BJP-led coalition government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Close on the heels of his recent announcement of a mega rally in Mumbai on October 14 to demand exclusive Buddhist management of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, he has now condemned the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) controversial advisory restricting garba events during Navratri to Hindus only.
Labelling the directive an “open invitation for radical elements to incite violence,” Athawale warned that any resulting clashes would fall squarely on the VHP’s shoulders.
Last week, Athawale said the rally, titled Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, will start from Ranibaug in Byculla and culminate at Azad Maidan. The date, he noted, was chosen to coincide with Dr BR Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism in 1956.
“The Mahabodhi Temple is the holiest shrine for Buddhists worldwide, where Lord Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment. Such a sacred institution must be wholly managed by Buddhists,” Athawale said, announcing the campaign at a meeting organised by his party in Mumbai.
Navratri (22 September to October 1) features the traditional garba dance — a circular performance where pairs sway to rhythmic beats, often striking colourful dandiya sticks in joyous harmony. This cultural spectacle draws crowds from all walks of life, blending spirituality with social celebration.
The VHP issued its guidelines on Saturday, urging organisers to enforce Hindu-only entry and verify participants’ identities via Aadhaar cards. A VHP leader justified the move by framing garba as a “sacred worship” rather than a mere dance or cultural event, aimed at curbing alleged “love jihad”—a term used by the right-wingers to describe interfaith relationships they view as exploitative.
Athawale fired back in a fiery X post. “I strongly condemn this! Who is the Vishva Hindu Parishad to decide who will go to Garba and who will not?” he thundered.
He accused the advisory of extending beyond mere instructions to organisers, instead fuelling potential assaults and religious conflicts nationwide.
“This advisory is not just limited to instructing organisers but is an open invitation for some radical elements to incite violence and use force,” Athawale asserted. He emphasisd that if any “clashes, assaults or religious conflicts” erupt during Navratri, “the complete responsibility will rest with the VHP and its associated organisations.”
The minister decried such tactics as a direct assault on India’s cherished principles of unity, diversity, and religious tolerance. “Navratri is a festival of worship and joy, and an attempt is being made to turn it into a platform for hate and suspicion, which is highly condemnable,” he said. Invoking the Constitution, Athawale highlighted Articles 14, 15, and 25, which enshrine equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of religion. “No organisation can decide who should celebrate a festival.
Garba is not just a religious tradition but also a celebration of music, dance and social harmony. Attempting to monopolise it with one ideology is unfair and regressive.” — With Inputs from Agencies
