Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta Fadnavis has again defended her stand on Muslim participation in Garba celebrations, saying she is being trolled by people who view her only as a “political wife”.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Amruta said she was expressing her opinion as a social activist and citizen, not as a political representative. She maintained that festivals such as Navratri and Garba should be inclusive and should not discriminate between people on the basis of religion or caste.

Her remarks come amid a growing controversy in Maharashtra after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for Muslims to be kept out of Garba and Dandiya events during Navratri. BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has backed the VHP's position. 

‘ID Check Is Fine, But Not on Religious Grounds’

Amruta said checking identity documents for security purposes could be a reasonable practice at public events, but she opposed checking people specifically on the basis of their religion.

Her position differs from the VHP's reported guidelines for Garba and Dandiya organisers. The organisation has called for participant verification and suggested measures including Aadhaar checks and tilak, while arguing that the events are linked to Hindu religious traditions.

Amruta had first expressed her position on the issue a day earlier, saying she saw nothing wrong with a Muslim person attending a Garba event and enjoying the celebrations peacefully.

Nitesh Rane Backs VHP’s Position

The controversy intensified after Nitesh Rane publicly supported the VHP's call to restrict Muslim participation.

Rane alleged that “love jihad” cases increase around such festivals and argued that organisers should verify the identity of people entering Garba venues. He also suggested that participants should recite the Hanuman Chalisa before being allowed entry. These are Rane's claims and proposals; they have not been established as facts by the statements cited here. 

The VHP, meanwhile, has said its position is linked to protecting the religious and cultural character of Navratri celebrations. Its proposed restrictions have triggered criticism from opposition parties and others.

Amruta Responds to ‘Love Jihad’ Argument

Asked about claims concerning “love jihad” at Garba events, Amruta said that if there is a genuine issue, it should be addressed through appropriate legal measures.

She also indicated that existing laws could be strengthened if required, rather than making religious identity the basis for entry restrictions.

The phrase “love jihad” is used by some right-wing groups to describe an alleged organised effort by Muslim men to enter relationships with Hindu women for religious conversion. The allegation is politically contentious and should not be treated as an established fact without evidence in individual cases.

Opposition Welcomes Amruta’s Stand

Amruta's remarks have received support from opposition leaders, who have used the controversy to question the positions taken by the VHP and Rane.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut welcomed her comments and urged her to communicate the same position to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and members of his cabinet who have supported restrictions.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also welcomed Amruta's position, while questioning whether she would similarly ask the government to act against ministers supporting the restrictions. 

The debate has therefore moved beyond the question of entry into Garba venues and into a wider political discussion over religious identity, public celebrations and Maharashtra's approach to cultural events.

VHP Call Has Triggered Wider Political Debate

The VHP's call concerns the upcoming Navratri season, which begins on October 11 this year. The organisation has asked organisers to prevent Muslim participation and has suggested identity-verification measures. 

These are organisational demands rather than a blanket government prohibition. Their implementation at individual Garba or Dandiya venues would depend on the organisers and applicable law.

The controversy has also drawn comments from other political figures, including Union minister Ramdas Athawale, who has opposed excluding Muslims from Garba events and argued that citizens should have equal rights to participate in cultural activities. 

2023 Reel With Riyaz Aly Also Drew Trolling

Amruta Fadnavis has previously faced social-media criticism over her public appearances and statements.

In January 2023, she shared a dance reel with social media influencer Riyaz Aly, featuring a Punjabi song. The video drew criticism from some social-media users, including objections related to filming at an official residence, according to the reports cited in the supplied material.

Amruta had responded at the time that she had become accustomed to online trolling and said criticism did not stop her from pursuing her work.

Her latest comments therefore revive a familiar theme in her public statements: she says she should be viewed independently of her husband's political position and that her views should not automatically be treated as the government's or the Chief Minister's position.

A controversy over Muslim participation in Maharashtra’s upcoming Navratri garba and dandiya events has turned into a political dispute, with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) calling for restrictions on Muslim entry while BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has backed the demand.

The issue intensified after Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said she saw nothing wrong with Muslims attending garba celebrations peacefully. Her comments have put a different emphasis on inclusivity as political leaders debate the participation of different communities in public festival events. 

Navratri is scheduled to begin on October 11, 2026, and the dispute has emerged weeks before garba and dandiya events are expected to begin across the state.

VHP Calls for Restrictions at Garba Events

The VHP has called for Muslims to be excluded from garba and dandiya venues in Maharashtra during Navratri.

The organisation has also issued guidelines for organisers that reportedly include checking participants' identities and Aadhaar cards and applying a tilak before entry. The VHP has defended the move by arguing that Navratri is a religious festival centred on Hindu worship and that its traditions should be protected. 

VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair has questioned the participation of people who do not follow idol worship in a festival centred on the worship of Hindu deities.

The proposed restrictions, however, have no automatic force simply because they have been issued as organisational guidelines. Individual event organisers and authorities would determine how specific venues operate, subject to applicable law and regulations.

Nitesh Rane Backs VHP Position

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane has publicly supported the VHP's position.

Rane has cited what he described as concerns over “love jihad” during festivals and supported identity checks at garba venues. He has also suggested that people attending the events should recite the Hanuman Chalisa before being allowed entry. 

“Love jihad” is a term used by right-wing activists to allege that Muslim men enter relationships with Hindu women with the intention of religious conversion. The allegation is politically contested and should not be treated as an established explanation for individual relationships or incidents.

Amruta Fadnavis Takes Different Position

Amruta Fadnavis has taken a contrasting view, saying festivals should be inclusive.

Speaking to reporters, she said that if a Muslim person attends a garba event and enjoys the celebration peacefully, she sees nothing wrong with it. She also described the festival as inclusive and emphasised the importance of following rules governing public events.

Her remarks have drawn attention because they came soon after Rane's endorsement of the VHP's proposed restrictions.

The disagreement has therefore expanded beyond the question of event entry into a wider political debate over how religious festivals should be organised in a plural society.

Opposition Targets Maharashtra Government

Opposition leaders have seized on the contrasting positions.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the apparent contradiction between the VHP's proposed restrictions in Maharashtra and the BJP leadership's diplomatic outreach to Muslim-majority countries.

Raut also questioned the position of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Hindu-Muslim unity and urged clarity over the VHP's demand.

The Congress has also backed Amruta Fadnavis's inclusive position, adding another political dimension to the controversy. 

Debate Centres on Identity and Public Festivals

At the heart of the dispute is a larger question: whether participation in a public garba or dandiya event should be determined by religious identity or by the rules set by the organisers and authorities.

Supporters of restrictions argue that garba during Navratri is fundamentally a religious celebration and that organisers have a right to protect its character. Critics say excluding people solely on the basis of religion risks turning public cultural celebrations into spaces of religious segregation.

The controversy has also brought the proposed use of identity documents and religious markers such as tilak into the political debate.

What Happens During Navratri?

With Navratri beginning on October 11, the immediate question will be how individual garba and dandiya organisers respond to the competing demands.

For now, the VHP's call, Rane's support and Amruta Fadnavis's inclusive position have exposed differing approaches within Maharashtra's wider political ecosystem.

The controversy is likely to remain in focus as organisers finalise arrangements for the festival and political parties continue debating the balance between religious identity, cultural participation and social harmony.