Bengaluru: Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed was condemned by all quarters, including party State Unit President D. K. Shivakumar for his remark that rape incidents in India are the highest in the world because women don’t follow the ‘purdah’ system or cover their faces with a veil.
Shivakumar also sought an apology from his party’s MLA.
Zameer on Sunday February 13 said that the concept of hijab is to keep girls behind purdah to hide their beauty when they grow up. He had said that their beauty should not be visible. Rape cases in India have increased because women are not wearing the purdah.
“He will have to withdraw his remarks. We have served him with a notice demanding an explanation. This is a ridiculous statement,” said Shivakumar.
Zameer had refused to apologise earlier in the day, claiming there was nothing wrong with what he stated. In a press conference in Hubballi, he even accused the media of misrepresenting his words.
Later, he wrote in a series of tweets that he thought wearing a burqa will prevent girls from getting raped. He also stated that this was made by the ancestors to avoid such acts, and I had no other intentions. “I was only concerned. Education will empower them and let them wear hijab and get an education. Do not stop these girls from getting an education in the name of hijab. I did not have the intention of hurting anyone. I apologise,” he stated.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai responded to the MLA’s initial remarks by saying that words like this reveal Zameer’s thinking and attitude.