Hyderabad, March 1 -- In a controversial move, Madhi Gram Sabha in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district have passed a resolution barring Muslim traders from conducting business in Madhi village during the Kanifnath Maharaj Yatra, a 700-year-old traditional event held annually at the Kanifnath shrine.

The Kanifnath Yatra, which is dedicated to Kanifnath, also known as Kanhoba, a revered figure in the Navnath Sampraday sect, is scheduled to be held on March 19 in Madhi village. The village is about 175 km from Pune and has a population of 5,000, including 650 Muslims.

Sarpanch, Hindutva outfit defend ban

The village sarpanch Sanjay Markad, who passed the resolution, justified this decision while asserting that Muslim traders do not follow t...