Mumbai, (UNI): After the ban on wearing of Hijab (headscarf) by Muslim women in educational institutions by Karnataka government snowballed into a major controversy, the Bollywood celebrities have jumped to the bandwagon and decided to voice their opinion, with some in support of the ban, while others opposing it.
Actor Sonam Kapoor shared a collage photo that saw a man wearing a turban and a woman wearing a hijab asking, “Turban can be a choice, but Hijab can’t?” However, the actor deleted the picture after facing backlash for the same. BJP leader from Punjab Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared Sonam Kapoor’s Insta story and slammed the actress for the ‘unjustified’ comparison.
“Dastar or ‘Dast-e-Yar’ means ‘the hand of God’. It is not a choice but a blessing of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji & an integral part of Sikhs’ identity. Comparing Dastar & Hijab are unjustified & unwanted in this context @sonamkapoor,” he tweeted.
Supporting the ban, actor Hema Malini said, “Schools are for education and religious matters should not be taken there. Every school has a uniform that should be respected. You can wear whatever you want outside the school.”
Javed Akhtar took to Twitter to oppose the ban. “I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of ‘MANLINESS’.
What a pity.” Fukrey actor Richa Chadha also voiced her opinion and said in a tweet, “Raise your sons better! A bunch of ugly, cowards attacking a lone woman in a pack and feeling proud of it? WHAT LOSERS! Shameful. They’ll be jobless, more frustrated and penniless in a few years. What poor upbringing! No sympathy, no redemption for them.
I spit on your kind.” Manikarnika actor Kangana Ranaut shared a post by author Anand Ranganathan and wrote, “If you want to show courage, show it by not wearing burqa in Afghanistan. Learn to break free, not cage yourself.”
Reacting to her statement, actor Shabana Azmi wrote, “Correct me if I’m wrong but Afghanistan is a theocratic state and when I last checked India was a secular democratic republic ?!!!”
Kamal Haasan tweeted, “What is happening in Karnataka is provoking unrest. A religious poison wall is being erected among the students who are not lying. What is happening in the neighbouring state beyond the single wall should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful (sic).” Filmmaker Onir wrote, “Silence to this is same as being a collaborator.”
Nupur Joshi wrote, “I feel education shouldn’t be painted in the name of burqa or bhagwas. We should be encouraged to have a uniform way through the learning experience. Students are the building blocks of our society. They should have a free mind, a logical one to pursue their interests. Nowhere the veins of religious or communal distress should come in way.”
