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MORE THAN 200 activists and social workers across the spectrum on Monday issued a joint statement seeking the registration of an FIR and an investigation into the October 14 incident in Ahmedabad where an announcement made from the stage of the Rang Morlo Navratri event headlined by Khalaasi-fame singer Aditya Gadhvi, and “non-Hindus” and “Muslims” were asked to voluntarily exit the premises. The anchor also said, “The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has come here for the protection of Hindus,” and gave a “helpline number” from the stage.

The statement was shared by Bhargav Oza of NAPM Gujarat, Dev Desai, Managing Trustee of ANHAD and Raghavan Rangarajan from PUCL, Ahmedabad. It said, “While artiste Aditya Gadhvi subsequently issued a public clarification stating that third party vigilante groups forcibly took control of the stage and made the discriminatory call, and this was endorsed by RJ Akash Trivedi, the occurrence of such an event highlights a dangerous breakdown of law, order, and constitutional norms in public spaces.”

The statement added that the incident was in direct violation of constitutional guarantees, and, “Such coercive actions represent a direct violation of Article 14 (Equality Before Law), Article 15(1) & 15(2) (Prohibition of Discrimination), and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).”

They also said, “Police authorities must take decisive and stern action against members of organisations that take the law into their own hands, intrude upon event premises and intimidate attendees.” Their third demand was institutional accountability for venue organisers.