Making 'Burqa Ban' a political issue is wrong: Zainab Sikander

After Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut demanded a ban on burqa in India, Political analyst Zainab Sikander questioned NDA ally's double standards. The political observer demanded clarity from the Sena MP on his party's stand. Raut created a massive furore in the political arena after he endorsed a similar move like the Sri Lankan government, that adopted banning Burqa in public places, post-Easter Sunday attacks, for the sake of national security.

New Delhi: Nothing seems to be going right for Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut since his call for a ban on Burqa through his party's mouthpiece Saamana on Wednesday. Political analyst Zainab Sikander questioned NDA ally's double standards. She pointed towards an April 2005 article published in the Sena mouthpiece which blamed women wearing skimpy clothes for provoking men.

The political observer demanded clarity from the Sena MP on his party's stand and said, "when I hear that they want to ban the burqa, I want to ask them what is their stand? On one side, you have problems with women wearing skimpy clothes and on the other side, women who are modestly dressed, you are asking them not to wear that."

Accusing Sena of doing politics of convenience, Zainab said, "Goalpost for any political party changes according to their suitability during election season. Terrorism and nationalism are the main issues for the BJP and its allies. So, I believe it is a convenient issue for them during elections."

Expressing no surprise on Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's move to distance himself from Raut's remark, the political observer said, "For the longest time Shiv Sena has been trying to distance itself from issues which are not progressive."

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut created a massive furore in the political arena after he endorsed a similar move like the Sri Lankan government, that adopted banning Burqa in public places, post-Easter Sunday attacks, for the sake of national security.