PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday warned the BJP was targeting “symbols” of Muslims.
Mufti referred to the hijab row in Karnataka while interacting with mediapersons in Srinagar. Mehbooba Mufti was quoted by ANI as saying, “I fear BJP won't stop at hijab. They will come for other symbols of Muslims and erase all. For Indian Muslims, it is not enough to be an Indian, they have to be BJP as well.”
She also referred to the issues surrounding Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti said, “Jammu and Kashmir is a political matter but they (BJP) want to make it a community matter.”
Meanwhile, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah also raised apprehensions that the hijab issue was being used for electoral gains.
Abdullah said in Pulwama on Sunday, “Everyone has the right to wear and eat as they wish and is free to practise their religious beliefs. There are some radical elements who are attacking a religion in an attempt to win polls by dividing people on communal lines,” ANI reported.
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On Saturday, Mufti was quoted by DNA as saying the hijab issue was being used to cause communal polarisation across the country. Speaking in Kupwara, Mufti said “BJP wants to polarise the situation to get benefits in elections and it looks like a conspiracy to keep the Muslim girl child away from education... The dress code is part of the culture. They are trying to convert this Gandhi's India [to] Godse's India.”