Karnataka Hijab Row: Congress Rejects Party MLA’s 'Wearing Hijab Protects From Rape' Remark

Earlier Khan said that Hijab is an old practice of Muslims to not show the beauty of girls to others

General Secretary of All India Congress Committee for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala. (Image: PTI File)

New Delhi: General Secretary of All India Congress Committee for Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala on Monday clarified that Congress rejects the remarks made by Chamrajpet MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan in the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka.

Earlier Khan said that Hijab is an old practice of Muslims to not show the beauty of girls to others. Surjewala slammed the Karnataka legislator by saying these are "regressive views" and there's no place in modern India for this.

Responding to Khan's "Wearing hijab-burqa will protect Muslim women from getting raped," comment, Surjewala tweeted, "India's women, irrespective of religion or caste, are representative of ‘Shakti’ from times immemorial. Women have made India proud in every sphere by their grit, independence & determination. The time has come for every such leader to change the conservative mindset."

On Monday, KPCC president DK Shivakumar asked the Congress MLA to apologise for passing a controversial statement linking rapes and wearing of the hijab, which the latter refused to do. "The Congress does not approve of Zameer's statement. We condemn that statement. We won't agree with that statement. I'll ask him to withdraw it and apologise," Shivakumar said as quoted by Deccan Herald.

However, later on Monday evening, after the Congress Chief Spokesperson Surjewala's slammed the legislator, the latter took to Twitter, to apologise for his controversial statement. "I get anxious & scared to see increasing atrocities & rape on Women in our Country. Because of this state of our society, I said that at least with burqa-hijab we may be able to prevent rapes. It was not intended to hurt or disrespect anyone. I regret it if it has hurt anyone."