Sena for ban on burqa

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena, which is facing flak over forcing Mumbai University to drop Rohinton Mistry's acclaimed book, today opened a new front, calling for a ban on burqa (veil) worn by Muslim women.

"If the burqa is to be used to steal children, then we demand that it be banned as per law," an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. The demand is in reference to a burqa-clad woman stealing a two-month-old child from a municipal hospital here recently.

Referring to France risking the wrath of the Islamic world by banning 'burqas' and other full-body robes worn by some Muslim women, the editorial said the French President had taken a 'revolutionary step' to ban the burqa.

"When burqa was banned in Turkey by Kemal Pasha, Islam did not come in between. Why only is it so in India," it said.

Indian-born Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry has voiced dismay over Mumbai University providing "deluxe service via express delivery" in quickly dropping his Booker Prize nominated book 'Such A Long Journey' from college syllabus following a demand by the Shiv Sena.

"A political party demanded change in syllabus and Mumbai University provided deluxe service via express delivery making the book disappear the very next day," Mistry, who is based in Canada, has said.