Veil remark angers Indian Muslims

Indian Muslim leaders have slammed presidential nominee for her remark on veil urging the governing coalition to drop her candidature.

Pratibha Patil's remark on the purdah (veil) system at a function in Udaipur Monday has upset Muslim leaders across India. Patil said purdah was introduced to save women from Muslim invaders, Indian Express daily reported.

"Women have always been respected in the Indian culture. The purdah system was introduced to protect them from the Muslim invaders. However, times have changed. India is now independent and hence, the systems should also change,” Patil said in a function on Maharana Pratap, a Medieval Hindu king who was defeated by the Mongol Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar.

While historians disagree with Patil's statement on the purdah system, Muslim leaders have also expressed anger asking Premier Manmohan Singh to find a new presidential candidate for the top ceremonial post in the country.

"Muslims invaders had nothing to do with purdah system in Rajasthan. Here Rajput leaders did not allow their women and daughters to go out without veils," Varsha Joshi of the Institute of Rajasthan Studies said, adding the veil was prevalent in the state even during the 11th Century, much before Muslim invaders entered India.

Mohammad Salim, state president of Jamat-e Islami Hind has also denounced the statement saying her views are similar to those of the Hindu fanatics.

"It was quite surprisingly that Patil, who is believed to be a well-read and educated person, can have such views,” Salim said.

Muslims account for nearly 14 percent of India's nearly 1.1 billion people. There is no strict rule on veil among Muslims as the practice is also found among women belonging to Hindu families.