Full Breakdown
Garba Event in Durg Disrupted Over Alleged Muslim Attendance
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
A traditional garba dance program held at the Civil Lines hockey ground in Durg, Chhattisgarh, descended into a scuffle on Wednesday night after members of the right-wing organisations Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) entered the stage and objected to the alleged presence of Muslim youths. Video footage circulating on social media shows participants pushing each other, with Congress city district president and former mayor Dheeraj Bakliwal being shoved. The organizers had advertised the event as free and open to anyone who respected the festival.
Key Participants
- Dheeraj Bakliwal – Congress district president and former mayor of Durg, who was pushed during the altercation.
- Adil Khan – NSUI office-bearer who posted the event’s promotional poster on social media, noting the free entry passes.
- Ramlochan Tiwari – VHP functionary who opposed Muslim participation and called for stricter entry checks.
- Hitendrasinh Rajput – VHP spokesperson who described the intervention as a routine exercise by Bajrang Dal volunteers at garba events.
- ASP Manishankar Chandra – Police officer who registered a case and said further action will follow after reviewing video and CCTV footage.
Official Responses
The VHP, through spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput, defended the on-stage objection, stating that Bajrang Dal volunteers regularly visit garba venues in Gujarat and other states to request organizers prevent non-Hindus from entering and to remove “suspicious” individuals.
Congress leader Dheeraj Bakliwal reiterated that the event was free and open to all who came with faith and respect for the festival, accusing a few participants of deliberately disrupting it.
Police ASP Manishankar Chandra confirmed that a case has been filed under the BNS provisions for voluntarily causing hurt, rioting, and use of obscene words or acts in a public place, and that CCTV footage is being examined to identify those involved.
Legal Action and Potential Follow-Up
The organizing committee’s complaint led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant criminal statutes. Authorities have indicated that further investigation will determine whether additional charges are warranted and whether any preventive measures will be mandated for future cultural events.
Broader Context
The Durg incident mirrors a recent controversy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where VHP-linked announcements asked non-Hindus and Muslims to leave a high-profile garba event. Both episodes highlight ongoing tensions between right-wing Hindu organisations and minority communities over participation in public cultural celebrations.