Jaipur: Two scheduled appearances of social media influencer Javed Ali Khan at garba programmes – part of the ongoing Navratri celebrations – were cancelled in Jaipur, Rajasthan after Hindutva outfits allegedly warned the organisers and objected to his presence on account of Khan being a “non-Hindu”.The organisers said that they were told if they went ahead with the planned event with Khan, there would be vandalism.“The event featuring Javed Khan has been cancelled after outfits including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal objected. I got multiple phone calls and messages. They told me that if the event was not cancelled, then they would carry out vandalism and could do anything. Now, who wants ruckus and damage to property? Khan was supposed to come for a celebrity appearance with his family today,” Ravi Patel, the owner of Molise club in Jaipur told The Wire on Sunday (October 18).Patel claimed that later he was also told by the police that the Hindutva groups could create problems if Khan was invited.“Something like this has never happened before,” said Patel.When The Wire contacted assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Malviya Nagar Shiv Dayal Meghwal, he said that he was not aware of the opposition to Khan’s planned visit.Earlier, another planned appearance of Khan at a Dandiya event held at the Vinaya Resort and Retreat on Saturday (October 17) was cancelled after Hindutva groups warned the organisers.A poster of a garba programme in Jaipur where the name of Javed Khan was mentioned as “celebrity guest”. The event was later cancelled after warnings by Hindutva groups. Photo: By arrangement“The organiser of the event sent me an audio recording where the Sanatan Suraksha Dal was heard warning him against inviting me. When the organisers told me about the situation, I returned their advance money and told them to focus on the event being a hit. I don’t want anyone to sustain losses because of me. I want to ask these outfits, what if there are Muslim police personnel engaged in festival duty? Will you stop them too?” Khan, a 31-year-old social media influencer and actor from Jaipur told The Wire.He added that the event at the Molise club was also cancelled after similar warnings from Hindutva outfits.‘Does the government want this divide between communities?’Khan, who has nearly nine lakh followers on Instagram also posted stories from his Instagram handle, speaking about the incident and saying that he cancelled the events as he doesn’t want anyone to be troubled or sustain losses because of him.“I have visited Vaishno Devi multiple times and regularly participate in many festivals from different communities like Navratri and Christmas. But today, hoardings are being put up publicly that no non-Hindu can go to garba programmes. It is going on publicly. Hindutva outfits are even calling police stations, informing them about Muslims who enter such celebrations. I want to ask the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, what action is being taken on this? Does the government want this divide between communities?” said Khan, while speaking to The Wire.Khan pointed to videos on his Instagram wherein he is seen celebrating festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, and added that till last year he would regularly go to Navratri celebrations.“These outfits know that getting limelight from such controversies help them to get a footing in politics. They hope that they may get a ticket for assembly elections or will be made the head of any morcha. I had gone to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi in July and met Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bora and other protesters. People from all communities were present there. We are against any divide based on religion or caste in the society,” said Khan. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Javed Ali Khan (@javedkhan31_official)‘We had warned the organisers’The Sanatan Suraksha Dal, a Hindutva outfit, claimed that Khan’s events were cancelled only after they warned that the organisers.“The organisers had even released a poster [announcing Khan’s appearance]. We warned the organisers that if Javed Khan comes, our workers would reach the venue and oppose his visit and won’t let the programme happen. Thereafter the programme has been cancelled. The garba-dandiya programmes organised during Navratri is about worship of Hindu goddesses. We have put up hoardings near every garba pandal that if any non-Hindu is found entering, the Sanatan Suraksha Dal will take action as we deem fit,” Ravi Gouttam, the founder of Sanatan Suraksha Dal, said.Gouttam, who said that he is a former photojournalist and founded the Sanatan Suraksha Dal six months ago, added that members of the outfit are checking the identities of every person entering garba pandals.“We are putting tilak and tying sacred threads around the wrists of all entrants and also purifying them with water from Ganga. A Muslim would not be ready to do this. Our team has gone to 70-80 pandals so far. This is a Hindu festival, how can a non-Hindu come here. If someone is so eager to come play garba, they should either do it in their mosque or come to the Hindu pandals with their sisters and wives and also apply tilak and tie sacred threads,” said Gouttam, who added that the Sanatan Suraksha Dal is also coordinating with Bajrang Dal regarding such activities.Warning issued by Sanatan Suraksha Dal, against the entry of “non-Hindus” in Garba pandals. Photos: FacebookActivists call for government’s interventionActivists have condemned the incident and urged the government to intervene.“We condemn how Khan’s visit to the garba pandals had to be cancelled after pressure from these outfits. It is very unfortunate that Khan was reduced to his religious identity and his body work didn’t matter. It is shocking because Jaipur had a very inclusive culture and we had not had that kind of takeover that only a particular community can attend garba celebrations,” said Kavita Srivastava, national president of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).Srivastava said that the BJP government in Rajasthan must intervene to stop such incidents in the future.“Outfits putting up hoardings, checking ids to create an environment of fear is shocking and needs to be condemned. The government must intervene and stop this. Festivals in India have always brought people together and are celebrations involving all communities,” Srivastava added.