Cow urine now a saffron weapon against 'love jihad'

GANDHINAGAR: Hindu right-wing groups' yearly attempt to keep other communities out of garba venues has taken a new form this year -attendees at functions in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar are being sprinkled with cow urine at the entrance.

However, the Navratri initiative, launched by Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), has found few takers among even Hindu participants. Devduttsinh Raol, an IT professional based in Gandhinagar, has lodged a complaint with the police against the practice. Having arrived at a garba venue with his wife and brother-in-law on Wednesday , Raol was taken aback when a group of youth with saffron scarves began sprinkling `gau mutra' on them. “They also misbehaved with my wife when I tried to intervene,“ he said in his written complaint.

Police were initially reluctant to accept his complaint, and took cognisance only when Raol approached Gandhinagar superintendent of police Virendra Singh Yadav.“All garba organisers have been asked to arrange for private security . If we are alerted on time, we will offer quick intervention,“ Yadav added. However, police personnel appear reluctant to act against those carrying out the `ritual', despite the fact that they have been making brazen statements and can be easily identified from photos in local papers.

Shaktisinh Zala, president of Bajrang Dal's Gandhinagar unit, said the initiative was aimed at preventing Hindu girls from becoming victims of `love jihad'. “No true Hindu opposes it,“ he added.

“We only target venues where non-Hindus tend to go,“ said Jay Shah, spokesperson for VHP, Gujarat.