Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have hit back over AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks on the 'Hijab' controversy. Condemning the statement, he accused Owaisi of doing vote bank politics and giving 'communal color' to the issue of education and progress.
Owaisi had strongly criticized the decision of Allahabad High Court, in which the petition of a minor student of a school in Prayagraj was rejected. The student had sought permission to wear hijab along with the prescribed school uniform.
On this, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “What I don't understand is what Asaduddin Owaisi thinks of himself. Are he the people who believe in the Constitution of India or the people who go against the Constitution. If the court gives a decision as per his wish, then he is fine, if the decision is not as per his wish then he opposes the court. If we want to live in India, we will have to follow the Constitution of India only.”
BJP leader Nalin Kohli said, “Be it Congress or Owaisi, if they are saying that it is necessary to wear hijab, then they will have to answer whether those Muslim sisters and daughters who refuse to wear hijab are not Muslims. Many Muslim sisters and daughters in this country and the world do not wear hijab.”
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said, “When it comes to equality, unity, integrity or women's rights, there is a clear difference between what they say and do. Be it the Muslim League which quotes the Constitution, or the Congress party which supports jihadis. The daughters of the country have reached space and are flying fighter jets, yet you want to confine them to hijab and burqa.”
Dayashankar Singh, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, said, “We cannot say anything on the matters which are before the court. The judiciary is supreme and whatever order it gives, we all follow it.”
BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana told IANS, “Owaisi does vote bank politics. Islam teaches that you should respect and follow the rules and laws of the country in which you live.”
Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC said that although no one is against the idea of wearing hijab, Muslim women are not forced to wear it.
Shaina NC told IANS, “Personally, we are not against wearing hijab, but nowhere is it said that women must wear hijab in Islam. But obviously Asaduddin Owaisi has his own agenda of votebank politics.
They can argue till the day of doomsday, but understand that uniform brings discipline and equality, which is a symbol of secularism. When uniforms bring discipline and equality among children, it shows that the identity of the institution remains intact.”
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also criticized Owaisi's comments. Speaking to IANS, Naqvi said, “Some people want to stop the education and progress of Muslim girls like the Taliban. And in the name of this, sometimes they try to create communal confusion regarding hijab, and sometimes they try to give a communal color to their education and progress.”
Naqvi said, “The system of our country is governed by the Constitution. 'Hijab' is not banned in our country, although many countries have banned it. However, institutions have their own dress codes. Everyone has to respect them.”
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