Wearing hijab will protect Muslim women from getting raped: Karnataka Congress MLA

MLA Khan has said that he only gave his point of view and he doesn't know what others think on the issue

Congress leader and MLA Zameer Ahmed courted controversy here on Sunday by reportedly stating that rape incidents in India are high because of the non-wearing of hijab. Hijab protects women from such heinous crimes, he said.

Speaking to a section of electronic media in Hubballi, Zameer said, hijab means ‘Parda’ in Islam, and has been an age-old custom that is practiced by Muslim women. This is to cover their beauty from the evil eyes. Though it is not a binding rule on all, majority of the Muslim women wear it.

However, the BJP which has never sought votes on the development agenda, is trying to get political mileage by raking such frivolous issues, charged Zameer.

Also read: Hijab row: As high schools reopen tomorrow, Bommai confident about peace

“Hijab row is a plot by the BJP to gain political mileage and create disharmony in the society by creating a rift between Muslims and Hindus. The BJP has never gone to the voters seeking votes on development. They always seek votes on communal lines, and this too is one of their political agenda to strengthen their vote banks,” Zameer charged.

Wearing hijab is a fundamental right of Muslim women, and has been in practice since time immemorial. Meanwhile, C M Ibrahim said, there is nothing new in hijab-wearing. While Hindu women wear pallu’, Muslim women wear hijab. No law has said that women should not wear headscarves, but the BJP has created a controversy, he said.

Credit: Sajith Kumar

Training his gun at RDPR Minister K S Eshwarappa, Ibrahim said, it was Eshwarappa’s son who distributed saffron stoles to college students. “Going a step further, the minister talked about hoisting a saffron flag at the Red Fort. Why the Chief Secretary and the DGP is silent on the issue, and has not booked a case against Eshwarappa,” fumed Ibrahim.

The hijab issue should be solved amicably failing which the BJP leaders will have to hide themselves behind hijab, post 2023 elections, said Ibrahim.