Story perspectives

BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma Faces Backlash Over Garba Remarks

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 4:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma said Muslims attend Garba chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, wear tilak, bring sisters, daughters (Sept. 21, 2026).
Sharma repeated the remarks on Tuesday, calling Garba worship of Goddess Jagdamba, not entertainment.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers pledged to patrol Garba venues.
Bajrang Dal youth pledged to verify Aadhaar cards at entry.
Congress MLA Arif Masood called Sharma’s comments extremely vile and demanded he amend them.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, triggered nationwide communal clashes and political realignments. The Bharatiya Janata Party leveraged the incident, fielding 150 candidates in the 1996 elections, winning 20% of parliamentary seats. Today, BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma echoes that rhetoric, urging Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers and Bajrang Dal youth to police Garba gatherings, while Congress MLA Arif Masood condemns the remarks. Such politicized cultural policing risks reigniting sectarian tensions, potentially prompting legal challenges and further polarizing India's secular framework.

1 of 2

Story summary

BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma said Muslims attend Garba chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, wear tilak, bring sisters, daughters (Sept. 21, 2026).
Sharma repeated the remarks on Tuesday, calling Garba worship of Goddess Jagdamba, not entertainment.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers pledged to patrol Garba venues.
Bajrang Dal youth pledged to verify Aadhaar cards at entry.
Congress MLA Arif Masood called Sharma’s comments extremely vile and demanded he amend them.

1 / 2