‘Burqa is an evil custom and the practice will end’, says UP Minister

Muslim women to be “freed” from the practice of wearing
‘burqa’, says Uttar Pradesh Minister Anand Swarup Shukla on Wednesday. And adds
that it is an evil custom and compares it to the banned triple talaq.

This comes a day after the minister wrote to the Ballia district
magistrate, complaining that he is facing difficulties in discharge of his
duties due to loudspeakers at mosques and said their volume should be fixed
according to the court orders.

“Muslim women will be freed from ‘burqa‘ like triple talaq. There
will come a time when they will get rid of it. There are many Muslim countries
where ‘burqa’ is banned,” Shukla told reporters, without elaborating
on his claim.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019 makes the
practice of instant divorce through “triple talaq” among Muslims a
punishable offence.

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Under the provisions of the Act, a Muslim man who pronounces
“triple talaq” upon his wife can be sentenced to a jail term that may
extend to three years.

Shukla, the Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
minister, said ‘burqa’ is “inhuman and evil custom” and added that
those with progressive thinking are shunning it and not pressing for its use.

On his letter to the DM in which he raised objection to the volume of
loudspeakers at the mosque near his house, the minister said on Wednesday that
those having problems should dial ‘112’ and inform police about it, adding if
proper steps are not taken, he will decide further course of action.

“Namaaz is offered five times in a day, and throughout the day. As
a result of it, I face problems in doing Yoga, meditation, puja (worship) and
discharging government duties,” Shukla had said in the letter, referring
to the Kajipura Madina Masjid in his constituency.

Shukla had said there are a number of schools in the vicinity of the
mosque and the practice hampers their studies.