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Muslim leaders criticize Presidential nominee

They ask governing coalition to replace Pratibha Patil

LUCKNOW: Muslim leaders demanded on Tuesday that the governing coalition replace its presidential nominee after she urged women to stop wearing veils, which she said were introduced to protect women from Muslim invaders centuries ago.

Several Muslim leaders called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to find a new candidate for the largely ceremonial post of President, after accusing Pratibha Patil of insulting Islam.

The controversy over Ms Patil’s remarks erupted even before she filed her nomination for the presidential election, due in July. The cut-off for nominations is June 30.

Maulana Khalid Rashid, a member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, said it was God who had asked women to wear a veil and that this was enshrined in the Quran, the Muslim holy book. The board is the highest body of the Muslims in India on laws governing personal matters.

“Any statement against the veil means an opinion against Allah and the Quran which no Muslim will tolerate,” Rashid told The Associated Press.

Addressing a conference in the north-western city of Udaipur over the weekend, Ms Patil reportedly said women started using veils in India to save themselves from Mughal invaders in the 16th century. She asked women to stop wearing veils.

Muslims account for nearly 14 percent of India’s nearly 1.1. billion people. Conservative Muslim women wear headscarves and face-covering veils.

Maulana Hasanul Badr, a Muslim cleric, said it was the duty of Muslim women to cover their bodies.

“Why do politicians interfere in our religious matters? It has become a fashion to pass judgment on Islam,” he said.

“The statement is a clear reflection of Ms Patil’s mind-set about Islam and Muslims. It is better that the United Progressive Alliance change its presidential candidate and opt for a more secular person for this post,” he said.

Orthodox Hindu women also cover their faces in the presence of elderly male members of the family.

Maulana Mehmood Madani, general secretary of Ulema-i-Hind, a Muslim organization, accused Ms. Patil of twisting history.

“She must apologize and withdraw her observations,” The Times Of India newspaper quoted Madani as saying.- AP

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