Controversy over 30 carat emerald pendant seen in Diwali pictures, Taslima Nasreen defends Kareena amid legal notice from Congress leader.
Tezzbuzz Desk – Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan is in controversy these days, not because of her films, but because of a special necklace. In some of her pictures that surfaced on the occasion of Diwali, she was seen wearing a 30-carat emerald pendant. The Quranic verse Ayatul Kursi is written on this pendant. After the pictures came out, controversy started regarding this jewellery.
As the controversy escalated, Congress leader and national media coordinator Abbas Hafeez sent a legal notice to Kareena Kapoor and her stylist Rhea Kapoor. The notice demanded removal of the photographs, videos and related posts, a public apology and an assurance that the Quranic verse would not be displayed in such a manner in future. Hafeez clarified that he has sent this notice in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the Congress Party.
Now in this entire controversy, famous writer Taslima Nasreen has come out in support of Kareena Kapoor. By writing a long post on social media platform X, he raised questions on the interference in women's dress and body in the name of religion. Taslima asked what is the objection in wearing a pendant with Quran's verse written on it and why should Kareena apologise.
Taslima also raised the question whether people actually have an objection to the pendant or because Kareena's cleavage is visible in her pictures. She criticized surveillance of women's bodies in the name of religion and pressuring them to apologise. He says that if a person considers any religious verse sacred then it is his faith, but the burden of his belief should not be put on another person.
Actually, on the occasion of Diwali, Kareena wore designer Punit Balana's beige colored kaftan and similar turban style headgear. Her look also included a 30-carat emerald pendant with Ayatul Kursi written on it. This is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran.
Kareena's stylist Rhea Kapoor had described this jewelery as an inherited jewel of the former royal family of Bhopal, which is about 200 years old. According to her, Kareena got this jewel through her husband Saif Ali Khan's family. Saif Ali Khan's grandmother Sajida Sultan was the daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruler of Bhopal.
Different opinions have emerged on this controversy even in the Muslim society. Bhopal's Naib Shahr Qazi Ali Kader Hussaini raised questions on the way of wearing pendants and asked to take care of the sanctity of the Quran's verses. Whereas Shamsul Hasan Balli of All India Muslim Festival Committee supported Kareena and called it a jewel related to the heritage of Pataudi family.
Hindu Utsav Committee and Sanskriti Bachao Manch have also come out in support of Kareena. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, president of Hindu Utsav Committee, said that Kareena does not need to apologize. Now, after Taslima Nasreen's support, the debate regarding women's freedom, religious sentiments and personal choices has intensified.
At present, there has been no public reaction to the legal notice from Kareena Kapoor Khan or Rhea Kapoor. After the support of Taslima Nasreen, this matter has once again come into discussion.