[Geo TV] The Shiv SenaA Hindoo nationalist political movement that presents a resistance using the same nasty tactics to aggressive Islamists and that's a pain in the underwear to other Indian political parties...
wants the burqa to be banned saying it is being misused for stealing children from hospitals.
It does make a pretty good disguise for anybody who has nefarious activities in mind...
"A two-month-old boy has been stolen from VN Desai hospital at Santacruz. It was found that a burqa-clad woman stole the baby," the editorial said, addressing its questions to home minister RR Patil. "The CCTV footage showed a person wearing white shoes but clad in a burqa. What is the use of such footage?"
The party has appealed to Mohammedan organisations to support the demand and prevent the misuse of the garment. "The burqa is being used to steal children. This is against Islam and Mohammedans should support the ban," the editorial said.
It's also used to disguise hard boyz running around with guns and boom jackets...
Editorials are often seen as Sena chief, Bal Thackeray's, stand on various issues. The editorial called French President Nicolas Sarkozy a "revolutionary" for banning the burqa despite opposition.
I dunno if I'd go so far as to use the word "revolutionary." Commonsensical, perhaps...
It also cited the example of Turkey where President Kemal Pasha banned the burqa after a man from the enemy camp attended a secret meeting wearing one.
| Could the writer possibly mean Ataturk? His Christian name was Kemal... |
It said the burqa poses a threat to hospitals and in election voting queues because there is no way of knowing who is behind the veil.
The Sena also said the garment represses Mohammedan women. "Is the Rs 65,000-crore being spent on upliftment of Mohammedan women, following the recommendations of the Sacchar committee, only to keep them inside a burqa?' the editorial asked.
Minister of state for medical education, Varsha Gaikwad, dismissed the Sena's demand.
"Tut tut, my good man! And tut!"
"It is only a political stunt. The issue is very sensitive. I have asked hospitals and the police to keep vigil.
Vigil for what?
"I will meet home minister RR Patil on Wednesday and we will look at how the issue can be resolved," Gaikwad said.