Srinagar: Terming Shiv Sena’s call for banning burqa in India as unwarranted, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said it will fan the flames of Islamophobia.
Ms Mehbooba, who is the former chief minister of J&K, said the move will also influence people to look at Muslim women, who follow the Islamic dress code, with suspicion.
“Shiv Sena’s call to ban burqa is unwarranted & 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,” Ms Mehbooba wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Ms Mehbooba was reacting to the Shiv Sena’s call for a ban on the use of burqa by women, throwing its weight behind a similar plan being mulled by the Sri Lankan government in the wake of the Easter terror strikes which claimed over 250 lives.