The recent remarks attributed to an Indian political leader Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding a Muslim woman’s veil are deeply troubling, not only for their lack of sensitivity but for what they symbolise. When issues of consent, religious identity and women’s dignity are reduced to casual humour by those in power, it exposes a mindset that many minorities have long feared.
For Muslims of the subcontinent, such incidents are not isolated. They echo a historical pattern where cultural and religious boundaries are repeatedly misunderstood, mocked or dismissed in public life. It is precisely this environment of insecurity and disregard that made the creation of Pakistan not just justified, but necessary. Pakistan was envisioned as a place where Muslims could live with dignity, practise their faith freely, and not have their identity questioned or trivialised by the state.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that the concerns raised during the struggle for Pakistan were real and remain relevant. Respect for religious identity is not a privilege; it is a right. When that respect is compromised, history itself stands as evidence of why separate nationhood was essential for the protection of Muslim dignity and values.
Hafsa Sheeraz
Sukkur
