📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Religion
Maharashtra minister backs VHP’s demand to bar Muslims from Navratri events
✍️ Mangalore Today
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 01:39 PM
👁 34
A senior Maharashtra minister reiterated the ‘love‑jihad’ narrative and endorsed the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s call to prohibit Muslims from taking part in Navratri festivities.
A senior minister of the Maharashtra government has publicly echoed the controversial "love jihad" narrative, aligning himself with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in urging that Muslims be excluded from Navratri celebrations. The minister’s remarks were made in response to growing communal rhetoric surrounding the nine‑day Hindu festival, which traditionally features dance, music and devotional gatherings.
The VHP has been campaigning for a ban on Muslim participation in Navratri events, arguing that the presence of the community could lead to inter‑faith marriages that it labels as "love jihad." The minister’s endorsement lends political weight to the organization’s demand, though no legislative proposal has been tabled to enforce such a restriction.
Political analysts note that the statement reflects a broader trend of communal posturing ahead of the festival season, but they also caution that any move to bar a specific community could face legal challenges under India’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. The state government has not issued an official directive, and local authorities have said they will continue to ensure the safety and inclusivity of public celebrations.
The episode adds to the ongoing debate over the role of religion in public life, with civil society groups urging restraint and urging the government to focus on maintaining law and order rather than endorsing exclusionary measures.
The VHP has been campaigning for a ban on Muslim participation in Navratri events, arguing that the presence of the community could lead to inter‑faith marriages that it labels as "love jihad." The minister’s endorsement lends political weight to the organization’s demand, though no legislative proposal has been tabled to enforce such a restriction.
Political analysts note that the statement reflects a broader trend of communal posturing ahead of the festival season, but they also caution that any move to bar a specific community could face legal challenges under India’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. The state government has not issued an official directive, and local authorities have said they will continue to ensure the safety and inclusivity of public celebrations.
The episode adds to the ongoing debate over the role of religion in public life, with civil society groups urging restraint and urging the government to focus on maintaining law and order rather than endorsing exclusionary measures.