Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) opposed calls to bar Muslims from attending ‘garba’ events during the Navratri festival, and said India is governed by the Constitution, which guarantees equal rights to people of all religions.
Asked about Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) call to bar Muslims from Navratri events in Maharashtra, Mr. The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment was talking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport after arriving on a day-long visit to Chhattisgarh. The Constitution given by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar ensures justice to all religions.
The VHP last week announced that Muslims would not be allowed entry to ‘garba’ and ‘dandiya’ venues across Maharashtra during the Navratri festival, which begins on October 11. Because india runs on the Constitution, “I feel this stand is not right.
Athawale said such a stand is not appropriate as people of different faiths have the right to participate in each other’s festivals. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Lingayats, Parsis and people of several other faiths live in India, and the Constitution seeks to protect all religions,” he said. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane on Monday (September 6) backed the VHP, alleging that cases of “love jihad” tend to increase during such festivals. He said attendees at such festivals should undergo identity checks and recite the Hanuman Chalisa before entry.
“It is not good to say that Muslims should not attend garba. Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India. Earlier reporting noted: Her remarks come days after the VHP announced that Muslims would not be allowed to participate in garba and dandiya events across the state during Navratri, which begins on October 11.
Hindu and Muslim communities need to come together and work for the country,” said Mr. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Festivals are inclusive’: Amruta Fadnavis differs with VHP’s call to keep Muslims out of garba events Amid a controversy over the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s call to keep Muslims out of garba and dandiya events in Maharashtra, Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , has said festivals are inclusive and there is nothing wrong with Muslims attending the celebrations. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane has backed the VHP’s call, alleging that cases of “love jihad” tend to increase during such festivals, news agency PTI reported.
Earlier reporting noted: Rane, in an exclusive interview to PTI Videos on Monday, supported the VHP’s decision and said those attending garba events should undergo identity verification and chant the Hanuman Chalisa before being allowed entry.
