By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi : United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate for the Presidential election Pratibha Patil's statement on purdah (veil) that the purdah system began during the Mughal rule to "save women from Mughal invaders" is earning mounting criticism from the various Muslim quarters.
Commenting on the Congress' support to Ms. Patil for the forthcoming Presidential election, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind general secretary Maulana Syed Mahmood Madani said it is very shameful for the Congress to suppress Ms. Patil instead of apologising for her erroneous statement. He added that purdah involves the faith of second largest majority of the country and as such Ms. Patil should have thought that it would hurt the feelings of Muslims.
"To talk of getting rid of the purdah system is tantamount to interference in Islamic Shariah," he further said.
Shahi Imam Masjid Fatehpuri Maulana Dr. Mufti Mukarram Ahmad criticised the said statement of Ms. Patil and said, "It seems she is neither aware of the history of India nor has she any respect for Islamic culture. She is influenced by the communal approach of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and is speaking the language of communalists though she is a member of the Congress. She should apologise the Muslims forthwith and explain her stand on purdah."
Muslim Political Council of India president Dr. Tasleem Ahmad Rahmani said Ms. Patil's statement reflects her ignorance about history as well as Sangh Parivar's misleading propaganda.
He added that Ms. Patil has presented the same point of view which RSS has been presenting in its shakhas.