Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor threw her weight behind Muslim girls protesting the ban on wearing hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka, equating turban with hijab.
Taking to Instagram, the actor posted a picture of a man wearing turban and a woman in hijab and asked if turban can be a choice, why can't hijab too be considered a choice.
On Thursday, Kangana Ranaut urged the girls to "break free" and not cage yourself. ""If you want to show courage, show it by not wearing burqa in Afghanistan. Learn to break free, not cage yourself," she wrote in an Instagram story.
Screenwriter-lyricist Javed Akhtar, on Thursday, said he has never been a supporter of hijab or burqa but was deeply angered by those trying to "intimidate" girls wearing hijab. "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," he tweeted.
When a Twitter user questioned Akhtar's silence on the issue of women wearing hijab or burqa, he responded saying those with saffron shawls on their shoulders can't oppose women's clothing.
"Secular people like me have the right to oppose burqa and hijab (we have always done that) but not those who themselves have saffron shawls on their shoulders. Aren't they of the same ideology that caused violence against Hindu girls in Mangalore for having coffee in a restaurant," he asked.
Protests for and against the hijab have intensified in parts of Karnataka. The demonstrations turned violent in some places on Tuesday after the government in the southern state issued an order last week making uniforms prescribed by it or the management of private institutions mandatory for students in schools and pre-university colleges.
—With PTI inputs
