In yet another serious threat to the state, the infamous right-wing group Hindu Mahasabha warned non-Hindus – read Muslims – of “serious consequences” if they are found to be applying ‘mehendi’ on the hands of Hindu women.
Ahead of Karwa Chauth, to be held on Thursday night, the threats hold significance as Muslims are known to have finesse in the art and a large number of Hindu women take their service for decorating their hands during the festival.
Vikram Saini, a BJP MLA from Khatauli, who was awarded two years imprisonment by the court on Tuesday in a case linked to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, said the intentions of Muslim youth who have opened mehendi shops are “different” and they have “love jihad” on their minds, reported news agency IANS. “They conduct love jihad under the guise of this mehendi work. There have been many such cases. My request to Hindu women is to apply mehendi at home or from shops and beauty parlours opened by our community members,” Saini said on Thursday.
“It has been observed that Muslim youths lure Hindu girls by becoming friendly with them while applying henna,” senior Muzaffarnagar district leader of the VHP was quoted by Deccan Herald as saying on Wednesday. He also warned that VHP workers would “teach a good lesson” to Muslim youth found to be applying henna on Hindu women. We are keeping a watch on the main markets in the district…our workers will ensure that Muslim youth are not able to apply henna on Hindu women,” the leader added.
Meanwhile, the group has reportedly opened 13 mehendi stalls and tasked its members with ensuring that Muslim male make-up artists do not apply mehendi or henna to Hindu women. They are verifying the details of the mehendi artists by checking their Aadhar cards, according to IANS. Lokesh Saini, a Hindu Mahasabha member, said the move is to protect “our brothers and sisters” from falling prey to “love jihad”. He reportedly asked the Hindu women to ask those stall owners who understand the significance of Karwa Chauth.
The threats came days after a “Boycott Muslim” call was given by a BJP leader during an event organized by the Hindu Mahasabha. As part of the call, the speakers during the event reportedly urged the Hindu people to refrain from taking services from Muslims. They even went on to urge them to stop buying vegetables also from the members of the minority community.
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