EXCLUSIVE: BJP Created The Issue — AIMIM Chief Owaisi On Hijab Row Ahead Of Assembly Polls 2022

“The BJP has its government in Karnataka. They have raised this issue. The BJP is responsible for this,” Owaisi told ABP News in an exclusive conversation.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi| Photo: Getty

New Delhi: Holding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responsible for the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday dubbed it to be “mental violence” against the girls.

“The BJP has its government in Karnataka. They have raised this issue. The BJP is responsible for this,” Owaisi told ABP News in an exclusive conversation.

“Give them the rights which have been given to every citizen in the constitution. The matter that has started in Karnataka has been raised by the BJP. Those girls already used to wear hijab. No one should have any problem with this,” he added.

The Hyderabad MP said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement claiming the Muslim women have voted for him proves to be hollow.

“This is the real face of BJP,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the advocate for petitioners told the Karnataka High Court during the hearing on the hijab row that the government targeting only Muslim women for their headscarves is an example of “hostile discrimination” even as different religious symbols such as bangles and turbans are common in the Indian society.

He also argued that the discrimination is even starker because there is no prescribed uniform for students in pre-university colleges in the state and as a consequence there is no rule that imposes a ban on the hijab.

The AIMIM chief also expressed confidence of defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

“We have done well in both the phases, the people of UP are watching us,” he said.

Voting for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is being held in seven phases.

Earlier on February 14, over 61% polling was reported in the 55 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh that voted in the second phase of the assembly elections.

The first phase of assembly elections for 58 assembly constituencies was held on February 10.

59 assembly seats will go to the polls in the third phase on February 20, while 60 seats will go to polls in the fourth phase on February 23.

Polling will be held on 60 assembly seats in the fifth phase on February 27, 57 seats in the sixth phase on March 3 and 54 seats in the seventh phase on March 7.

The counting of votes will be held on March 10.