Allahabad HC verdict on Hijab violates Indian Constitution: Owaisi

Hyderabad: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has questioned Allahabad High Court’s verdict on Hijab and termed it an “attack on Islam”. The Hyderabad MP argued that the High Court verdict that Hijab is not essential in Islam violates the Indian Constitution.

Owaisi was addressing a public meeting at AIMIM headquarters Darussalam late on Tuesday night on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi.

“Allahabad High Court has given a judgment today. One of our daughters was wearing Hijab to school. The Court ruled that one cannot wear a Hijab. I disagree with this High Court judgment. This violates Articles 25 and 19 of the Indian Constitution. Who are you to decide what is essential to Islam. It is an attack on Islam,” he said.

The MP pointed out that the Supreme Court has already ruled that right to privacy is a fundamental right.

Owaisi alleged that in the name of Uniform Civil Code, Hindu personal laws were being imposed on Muslims.

“Uniformity is not equality, Uniform Civil Code has been implemented in Uttarakhand, Assam and Gujarat. It is based on provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Divorce Act and Hindu Succession Act. How can they be called a Uniform Civil Code? Why should these laws be imposed on Muslims when they are rooted in Hindu personal laws?,” he asked.

“Remember, attempts to distance us from our faith will fail. Those who profess faith in Islam will continue to follow the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. We will not abandon our Deen (faith),” he said

Targeting the RSS over the Manusmriti, the MP said four days after the Indian Constitution was written, RSS made a complaint and said Manusmriti should have been adopted.

Owaisi also took a dig at Modi government over restrictions on food habits of people and reminded it that India is the world’s largest beef exporter. “India remains world’s largest beef exporter. It’s the lure of dollars,” he said, while questioning the double standards of the government

The AIMIM chief said that encounters, bulldozer and atrocities in Uttar Pradesh won’t end Islam. He slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his remark claiming Mohammad Ali Jauhar helped Pakistan.

Owaisi reminded Yogi that Mohammed Ali Jauhar was a key figure of Khilafat Movement. The MP also stated that the only time RSS founder Hedgewar went to jail was when he spoke in support of Khilafat Movement.

On ‘Vande Mataram’ row, Owaisi said Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi together decided that singing of ‘Vanda Matarm’ will be restricted to two stanzas.

He slammed the Centre for making a legislation on ‘Vande Mataram’ and said this was an insult to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore.

“Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi more intellectual, patriotic than Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore,” he asked.

Owaisi remarked that instead of providing jobs to youth, the Modi government was diverting the attention of people through issues like “Vande Mataram”, Uniform Civil Code and “gau raksha”.

Stating that there were 11 crore unemployed youth in the country, he warned the RSS and BJP that people, especially the youth will come out on the roads and protest.

IANS