In a major political development on Wednesday, NDA constituent Shiv Sena asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban burqa, niqab and other face coverings worn by Muslim women.

The ultra right-wing Hindu nationalist party made the demand through an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana .

The editorial is titled — It happened in Ravan’s Lanka when it will happen in Ram’s Ayodhya? Question for Prime Minister Modi .

National security interest

Shiv Sena has been the BJP’s alliance partner for about 25 years. It has been sharing power with the BJP in Maharashtra.

Pressing for a ban on the burqa and niqab , the party said a similar ban has been imposed by the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in the interest of national security after the devastating bomb blasts on Easter.

The editorial said the aftershocks of the bomb blastswere also felt in India. The neighbouring country was just coming out of the terror unleashed by LTTE.

Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, in a media retweet on his twitter handle, said Shiv Sena is ignorant as a Supreme Court judgement on privacy has clearly said that choice is now a fundamental right and the demand for such a ban is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Owaisi, who is a very strong voice on the rights of the Muslim community, said that the Election Commission should take cognisance of the matter. It is an attempt to create polarise the country.

The J&K Peoples Democratic Party’s president, Mehbooba Mufti, tweeted that banning burqa is unwarranted and it will fan the flames of Islamophobia. It also influences people to look at Muslim women, who follow the Islamic dress code, with suspicion. Sad that the diversity our country takes great pride in, is under attack.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW