Published 23:33 IST, November 6th 2019
Taslima Nasreen lauds Gehlot's anti-ghoonghat stand; asks about Burqa
Author Taslima Nasreen called on politicians to speak against wearing of burqa, a day after CM Ashok Gehlot said the custom of 'ghoonghat' must be eradicated
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Popular Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Wednesday called on politicians to speak out against the practice of donning burqa, a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the custom of 'ghoonghat' must be eradicated at the earliest.
"Finally a politician spoke against ghunghat. Is there any politician who can speak against burqa publicly? They need to speak against burqa, and ghunghat (sic)," said Nasreen in a Twitter post. She added that politicians need to discourage women to wear things that are "symbols of women's oppression". Nasreen also gave a "big salute to CM Ashok Gehlot's conscience" on the micro-blogging site. The 56-year-old writer in-exile for 25 years from Bangladesh has been vocal of issues related to woman, most recently when actor Zaira Wasim had announced her intention to quit the film industry and hardliners had attempted to cash in on the decision.
Gehlot's progressive pitch
Expressing displeasure at the practice of covering women's faces with a 'ghoonghat' or veil in some rural areas, CM Gehlot on Tuesday said the custom belongs to a bygone era. "Time has changed now but the practice of 'ghoonghat' is still there in villages. What is right in confining a woman to 'ghoonghat'? Women cannot progress till the 'ghoonghat' exists," he said at a programme in Jaipur organised by an NGO.
समाज को एक महिला को घूंघट में कैद करने का अधिकार नहीं है, नारी को घूंघट में कैद नहीं कर सकते।
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) November 5, 2019
नारी को जब दुर्गा कहते हैं तो उसकी भी देश के निर्माण में भागीदारी होनी चाहिए...अब ज़माना बदल चुका है, हिम्मत और हौसले के साथ महिलाओं को आगे बढ़ना होगा, सरकार आपको हमेशा साथ खड़ी मिलेगी। pic.twitter.com/g1zKsm8WAG
Gehlot said women will be able to come forward and play a constructive role in nation-building only when they are not forced to cover their faces. "Women are empowered. They have the capacity to bring changes in society and their role is very crucial," he said. Gehlot also emphasized the importance of completely eradicating the practice of child marriages, saying it destroys the lives of children.
21:10 IST, November 6th 2019