The Vishva Hindu Parishad has called for a ban on Muslims from taking part in garba events in Maharashtra and set “guidelines” for the organisers to verify the identity of participants, India Today reported on Sunday.The measures include checking the Aadhaar cards of those participating and applying a tilak, a sacred mark on the forehead in Hindu tradition, on the participants.VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair said that the Hindutva group had decided to prevent Muslims from participating in garba events, arguing that the festival is centred on worshipping a Hindu deity, India Today reported.Garba is a Gujarati folk dance, performed in a circular pattern around a lamp or idol, symbolising the Hindu deity Durga. It is performed during the festival of Navratri, which will begin on October 11 and end on October 20 this year.“Navratri is not just about songs and dance,” Nair was quoted as saying. “The festival is about worshipping the goddess. Why should Muslims, who are against idol worship, participate in the festival?”Hindutva groups have long tried to make the identity verification of those participating in garba and dandiya events mandatory to prevent “love jihad”.Love jihad is a Hindutva conspiracy theory that Muslim men trick Hindu women into romantic relationships with the aim of converting them to Islam. The Union home ministry has told Parliament that Indian law has no provision defining such a term.However, Nair claimed that the decision was not directed against any community, but was a precautionary measure to preserve what the organisation considers the cultural character of Hindu festivals.The Vishva Hindu Parishad is part of a group of Hindutva outfits led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut criticised the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s demands, saying that Muslims “also made a significant contribution to this country’s freedom struggle and cultural struggle”, ANI reported.“[RSS chief] Mohan Bhagwat goes abroad and delivers speeches stating that ‘there should be no differences between Muslims and Hindus in our country’...” Raut was quoted as saying. “Yet here, his people engage in this kind of behaviour? Mohan Bhagwat ought to issue a statement on this.”Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s actions were bound to disturb peace, The Times of India reported.Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.