Patna, January 9 (NationPress) The Bihar State Minority Commission (BSMC) has responded to the alleged decision made by the All India Jewellers and Gold Federation (AIJGF) to prohibit women wearing burqa, hijab, or niqab from entering jewellery showrooms throughout the state.

The Commission has sent letters to Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma and District Magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh, requesting their urgent intervention regarding this issue.

According to the BSMC, it became aware of the AIJGF's decision through viral videos on social media, news reports from newspapers and television channels, and information from concerned citizens who believe that social harmony in Bihar must be preserved at all costs.

The Commission has accused Ashok Kumar Verma, the Bihar AIJGF President, of attempting to incite religious conflict by advocating 'No Entry' notices for women in burqas or naqabs in jewellery stores.

The BSMC asserted that this decision breaches Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which assure freedom of expression and the right to life and personal liberty.

Moreover, the Commission stated that labeling women from a specific community as suspects or potential criminals under the guise of self-defense is both legally incorrect and socially harmful.

The BSMC emphasized that instead of implementing standard security protocols to avert criminal activities, the AIJGF's initiative to ban women in burqas or naqabs is being misconstrued as a security measure.

However, the Commission challenged this rationale, arguing that criminals have committed crimes while donning helmets or disguises.

"By that reasoning, should wearing helmets while riding motorcycles be prohibited?" questioned the Commission, noting that such logic is neither legally valid nor practical.

The BSMC insisted that effective law enforcement, surveillance, and robust security measures, rather than targeting attire associated with religious identity, are essential for maintaining law and order.

The Commission remarked that the statements and actions attributed to the Bihar AIJGF President seem to focus less on security concerns and more on targeting Muslim women's attire, which could disrupt community harmony and goodwill.

It underlined that no individual or organization has the right to impose discriminatory restrictions based on religion or attire, and such attempts could lead to significant law-and-order issues.

The Commission has urged local authorities and police to thoroughly investigate the matter and take necessary actions to safeguard constitutional rights and uphold social harmony in the state.