No ID, no entry in MP’s garba pandals: Minister says they are becoming hotbed of love jihad

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh culture minister Usha Thakur on Thursday said that Garba pandals are becoming the breeding grounds for love jihad and also warned the organizers against giving entry to ‘unidentified people in festive celebrations.

“Garba pandals have become medium to promote love jihad, therefore awareness and precautionary steps are needed to stem the problem in the bud”, the minister said.

The Minister, when asked about people with fake identity sneaking in the Garba celebrations, said that it was essential to stop such malpractice.

She also sought to draw a red line for Garba pandals in the state, saying that no one without a valid identity card should be given entry into the festive celebrations.

गरबा पंडालों में अब दिखाना होगा आइ कार्ड, मध्य प्रदेश की संस्कृति मंत्री @UshaThakurMLA ने कहा लव जिहाद के अड्डे बन गये थे गरबा पंडाल इसलिये सतर्कता ज़रूर हो गई है @ABPNews pic.twitter.com/YgwEAFdSxW

— Brajesh Rajput (@brajeshabpnews) September 8, 2022

Her remarks comes in wake of sudden spurt in love jihad cases. Lately, multiple cases have emerged where girl from majority community are either coaxed or deceived to marry and then persuaded and threatened to convert to Islam.

This is not the first time that the state government has tightened the norms for Garba festivities. Last year, the state police had briefly arrested 4 Muslim youths from Oxford college Garba event in Indore after right wing groups accused them of indulging in love jihad.

Illegal madrasas will be banned, says Usha Thakur

Speaking on the survey of madrasas, the MP Minister said that the process of screening is almost done and soon a list will be issued. She said that all those madrasas operating without government sanction will be banned.