A coalition of civil society organisations and citizens in Gujarat has demanded police action over an incident at a Navratri event in Ahmedabad on October 14, 2026, where an announcement asked non-Hindus to leave the venue. The groups have accused vigilante groups of interfering with the event and called for an FIR, action against those involved, and accountability for the organisers.
The incident took place at Rang Morla featuring Aditya Gadhvi, a commercial garba event held at Savana Party Plot on Shela Road in Ahmedabad. According to the joint statement, anchor RJ Akash Trivedi announced from the stage that non-Hindus should leave the venue.
The statement also alleges that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were involved in the interference and that a helpline number was circulated to report people considered “suspicious”.
The statement has received support from several well-known figures, including Tushar A. Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi; human rights activist Cedric Prakash; Dalit rights activist Martin Macwan; sociologist Ghanshyam Shah; cinema scholar Ira Bhaskar; PUCL Gujarat’s Sejal Dand; NAPM Gujarat’s Bhargav Oza; and urban planning scholar Darshini Mahadevia.
What Do the Signatories Say?
In a joint statement signed by around 209 individuals and representatives, the signatories described the incident as discriminatory and said religious identity checks and forcing people to leave a public gathering based on their religion were unacceptable.
They argued that such actions violate constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 15 and 21, which concern equality before the law, protection against discrimination and the right to life and personal liberty.
The statement warned that repeated incidents of intimidation during Navratri could damage communal harmony and weaken the rule of law in Gujarat.
The signatories also pointed out that Navratri has traditionally been a festival where people from different communities come together for cultural celebrations. They warned that turning such events into spaces of exclusion could encourage vigilantism and create further divisions.
Aditya Gadhvi and the Event Organisers
Following the incident, singer Aditya Gadhvi issued a public clarification, stating that third-party vigilante groups had forcibly taken control of the stage and made the discriminatory announcement. According to the statement, RJ Akash Trivedi also endorsed this explanation.
The signatories said the incident raised questions about how outside groups could interfere with a ticketed event and make decisions about who could attend.
They called for event organisers and venue owners to be held accountable for ensuring the safety and dignity of all attendees and preventing unauthorised groups from taking control of event facilities.
Who Signed the Joint Statement?
The appeal was drafted by several civil society organisations, including, ANHAD — Act Now for Harmony and Democracy, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) Gujarat, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Ahmedabad District Unit and Students and Youth Collective Ahmedabad (SYCA).
The statement also represents concerns raised by citizens, human rights advocates, social workers, legal professionals, academics and civil society representatives across Gujarat.
What Action Are They Demanding?
The signatories have urged the Gujarat government, the state DGP and the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to register an FIR under relevant BNS sections, take action against groups accused of intimidating people, hold event organisers accountable for attendees’ safety, and investigate the incident to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The signatories also urged civil society groups, trade unions, youth organisations, cultural workers and concerned citizens to raise the issue before the appropriate authorities. They said that failing to act against such incidents could encourage further intimidation and undermine constitutional rights and communal harmony in Gujarat.
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