A heated political row has erupted in Hyderabad over allegations that event organizers are excluding Muslim security personnel and service staff from Navratri Dandiya celebrations. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Goshamahal legislator T Raja Singh have clashed openly on the issue following claims by local bouncers that they are facing systematic religious discrimination during festival assignments.
Security Agencies and Personnel Allege Selective Exclusion
Representatives from local security agencies and bouncers detailed their grievances at a joint press conference, asserting that exclusion began escalating in 2024 across Dandiya events, hotels, and seasonal gatherings. The affected professionals highlighted that such practices have pushed many workers into acute financial distress, despite their long record of managing public gatherings and maintaining order across the city.
Professional bouncer MD Feroz, also known as Fazal, addressed the media alongside security agency representatives Shankar Reddy, Salige Prabhakar, and Salman. The representatives urged event planners to treat personnel equally regardless of faith, stressing that thousands of Hindu and Muslim bouncers work together across Telangana without communal divisions. Feroz stated that while his teams previously secured contracts for the majority of the city's Dandiya gatherings, colleagues were informed this year that Muslim personnel were no longer welcome for security duties. He also raised concerns that campaigns are targeting Muslim staff involved in sound engineering, DJ setups, decorative lighting, and stage arrangements. The private security representatives appealed directly to the Telangana government and police authorities to step in against groups impacting their livelihoods.
Asaduddin Owaisi Calls for Strict Enforcement and Civic Unity
Reacting to the concerns raised by the personnel, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi published a statement on X emphasizing that fringe groups are pressuring organizers to enforce bans on Muslim workers. He asserted that decisive police intervention could halt the spread of communal division.
Owaisi further noted that residents across Telangana must rise above religious differences to challenge exclusionary practices collectively. He cautioned that failing to curb such hostility would undermine the state's progress and ongoing economic development.
Legislator T Raja Singh Defends Restrictions at Religious Festivals
Presenting a contrasting stance, Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh defended the policy of keeping non-Hindu personnel away from religious events. He argued that public awareness drives have been underway for roughly four to five years to discourage hiring non-Hindu guards for Navratri, Garba, and Dandiya celebrations, receiving backing from several event organizers.
The legislator alleged that past events with mixed security arrangements had led to security breaches and targeted misconduct against attendees. Questioning Owaisi directly, Singh maintained that outside political leaders have no mandate to dictate staffing decisions for Hindu festivities, asserting that cultural celebrations should manage their security autonomously.
Broader Precedents Across States
Tensions surrounding venue admissions and event management during festive seasons have surfaced in other parts of the country as well. In Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, an incident occurred previously where an individual was assaulted over entering a local Dandiya gathering, an encounter that circulated widely on video. Religious groups in that region had also demonstrated against non-Hindu participation in festive programs. The confrontation in Hyderabad underscores how event management and security staffing during major festivities remain deeply contested across state lines.
