₹25,000 White-Themed Garba Passes Spark Clash: VHP-Bajrang Dal Activists Face Police Lathi Charge Over Tilak Controversy in Gandhinagar
On the second day of Navratri (October 4), a clash occurred between members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-Bajrang Dal and the police at the ‘The Sheri Affair’ Garba event, where tickets were sold at premium prices ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. The conflict began when Bajrang Dal activists arrived at the Garba venue to perform the ritual of applying a tilak.
A scuffle broke out between the bouncers and the activists, leading to police intervention, including the use of lathi charge. Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, but the Gandhinagar police and district police chief have yet to issue a statement on the matter.
District Police Chief’s Statement: “Taking the Law into One’s Own Hands is Unacceptable”
In a conversation with Source, District Police Chief Ravi Teja Vasam Shetty stated that a group of 50 to 60 people arrived late at night at Thakar Farm near Sargasan. The group attempted to force their way into the Garba event, prompting the event organizers to contact the police. When the police tried to stop them, a clash ensued between the officers and the activists, leading to a mild lathi charge.
Shetty emphasized that if there were any concerns about non-Hindus attending the Garba, they should have informed the police, but no such complaint or evidence was provided. He added that this was a case of individuals taking the law into their own hands, and no formal case has been registered regarding the incident so far.
Ashok Rawal’s Claim: “Some Bouncers Were Non-Hindus”
In an interview with Source, Ashok Rawal, Gujarat state leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), stated that Bajrang Dal and VHP activists had arrived at a Garba event near Sargasan Chokdi in Gandhinagar to perform the tilak ritual. A confrontation occurred between the police and the bouncers present at the Garba.
The police attempted to stop the activists, during which the event organizers’ bouncers intervened, leading to heated arguments. According to Rawal, some of the bouncers were non-Hindus, which escalated the situation further. However, everything eventually calmed down after the initial clash.
Clash Between Police and Bajrang Dal Activists
Ashok Rawal further mentioned that when Bajrang Dal activists arrived at the Garba venue to perform the tilak ritual, there was no information regarding who the organizers were. None of the event organizers were present at the time.
The activists had received information that people from other religions were also involved in organizing the Garba. This led to a confrontation between the police and the Bajrang Dal activists, and videos of the incident have since gone viral on social media.
Exclusive ‘The Sheri Affair’ Garba: Entry Only in White Attire
For the past few years, the premium Garba event, known as ‘The Sheri Affair,’ has been organized with a unique requirement—participants must attend wearing only white attire. Entry passes are issued exclusively to individuals aged 18 to 45.
The location of the Garba remains undisclosed until the last moment, with tickets priced as high as ₹25,000. This year, on the second day of Navratri, the event was held at Thakar Farmhouse near Sargasan, Gandhinagar, with a significant police presence to ensure security.
Discussion of Police Lathi Charge
According to sources, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members discovered that individuals from other religions were also involved in organizing the Garba event. When Bajrang Dal activists went to perform the tilak ritual at the event, a confrontation occurred between them and the local police present.
As the argument escalated, it is reported that the police resorted to a lathi charge to control the situation. However, there are claims that the entire incident has been suppressed and not widely addressed.