Patna: (ABN) A controversy has erupted in Bihar's politics after jewelers decided to ban entry to customers who cover their faces while visiting their shops. The decision prohibits individuals wearing hijab, burqa, niqab, ghunghat, mask, or helmet from entering jewelry stores. According to reports, the All India Jewellers and Goldsmiths Federation's Bihar unit made this decision due to the increasing incidents of theft and looting in shops.
The federation stated that the recent surge in gold and silver prices has made jewelry stores a target for criminal elements. Considering this security concern, shopkeepers have decided that anyone covering their face must reveal it before entering the store. The local police administration has been informed about this decision, and notices have been posted outside shops in several cities, including Patna.
Political reactions have also emerged in response to this decision. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has strongly opposed it, with state spokesperson Ajaz Ahmed saying that targeting hijab and niqab in the name of security is against the Indian Constitution and constitutional traditions. He claimed that this decision is an attack on religious freedom and basic rights, targeting a specific religious identity. Ahmed alleged that such actions are driven by a communal agenda and demanded that jewelers withdraw this decision immediately.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has supported the move, stating that it is not against any religion or community but a purely security-related matter. According to BJP state spokesperson Niranjan Kumar, allowing customers to enter jewelry stores with their faces covered increases the likelihood of crime, making this step necessary for the safety of both customers and shopkeepers. Kumar appealed to the opposition not to give the issue a communal color.
After the ban on face-covering in jewelry shops, Muslim organizations have clearly stated that if niqab is not allowed, they will not make purchases. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has given a straightforward response to the jewelers, saying that if Muslim women wearing hijab are barred from shopping, they will not buy gold, silver, or other jewelry.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's state president, Maulana Rizwan Islahi, said that traders can request customers to remove their face cover for security purposes. He emphasized that as far as hijab is concerned, Islam requires women to observe purdah, and Muslim women will not compromise on their religious values. If women wearing hijab are prevented from shopping, they will not make purchases.
Maulana Ahmad Hussain Qasmi, assistant nazim of the Imarat-e-Sharia, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, said that the Constitution has given them religious freedom, which allows them to decide what to wear. He clearly stated that wearing niqab is part of Islam, and the federation that imposed this ban should reconsider its decision. Nazim Imarat-e-Sharia, Mufti Saeedur Rahman Qasmi, said that they will review the matter and issue a statement.
Ashok Verma said that traders in UP and Jodhpur have already implemented this rule at the district level. He stated that if any man or woman enters a jewelry shop or showroom with their face covered, the trader will request them to remove it. The purpose is to ensure the safety of traders' lives and property.
Verma mentioned that in recent days, some criminals wearing burqas and hijabs have looted jewelry shops in Mumbai and other places. If the customer's face is visible, it is easy to identify them, but if their face is covered, it is difficult to recognize them even through CCTV cameras. This decision was made for this reason.
MLC Khalid Anwar said that those who made such statements should apologize immediately, as they do not understand the difference between niqab and mask. He stated that the association's president should not be tolerated for such actions and that several associations are against this move, so they should apologize immediately. Anwar said that such actions should not happen in business and that the All India Association should also remove such people who spread hatred in society.
It is clear that such actions not only target Muslims but also insult Islamic identity. Now, it remains to be seen how much politics will be involved in this issue of niqab. Some people from Muslim organizations have certainly spoken out and demanded an apology from the association's president.
