Love Jihad row: Muslim youths barred from Garba venues in Godhra

Ahmedabad: In the wake of 'Love Jihad' controversy, Muslims have been barred from attending Garba celebrations in Gujarat's Godhra district, reports on Thursday claimed.

A pro-Hindutva outfit, Hindu Asmita Heet Rakshak Samiti (HAHRS), has alleged that Muslim youths venture into garba venues to lure Hindu girls, adding they have thus made elaborate arrangements to bar those boys.

HAHRS has the backing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which has asked the garba organisers to carefully check the identity cards of the people entering the premises of garba venues.

While issuing the diktat, HAHRS member Jaimin Shah alleged that when Muslims have problems in singing 'Vande Mataram' and don't endorse religious beliefs of the Hindus, there is no need for them to come to Navratri celebrations.

Shah has said that 'Love Jihad' is a reality and they don't want it to happen in Gujarat.

Report say that some organisers have decided to allow Muslim youths if they are accompanied by their family members.

Meanwhile, the Muslims too have decided to stay away from the celebrations saying that they don't want to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere.

Godhra has witnessed numerous communal riots and was the focal point during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A few days back, Imam Mehadi Hasan sparked a controversy as he reportedly termed Gujarat's most popular festival 'Navratri' as "a festival of demons".

Hasan, a Gujarat-based cleric, had shot into limelight when he offered a skull cap to then chief minister Narendra Modi during his 2011 Sadbhavna fast.

Based on the complaint filed by a VHP leader, the Gujarat police had Tuesday arrested Hasan from his residence in Rustampura village of Thasra taluka in Kheda and booked him under IPC section 295(A), which deals with deliberate act to outrage religious feelings of people by insulting their religion and beliefs.