– Raheem Khan
Jaipur, Jan. 29: Muslim students took to the streets here Monday to protest against a statement on hijab made by BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya.
The students surrounded the Subhash Chowk police station and shouted slogans against MLA Balmukund Acharya. They alleged that Acharya made a remark about hijab and also made everyone chant religious slogans at the school’s annual function.
In the viral video, the MLA is seen making students chant Saraswati Mata ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram. He asks the students who are not chanting slogans if anyone has forbidden them from chanting. He then again makes them chant religious slogans.
In the video, Acharya is also heard saying to the school staff, “What is this hijab vijab business? The atmosphere gets spoiled due to hijab, stop hijab here. Are these students who have come wearing hijab married? How do they breathe wearing hijab?” (यह हिजाब विजाब का क्या चक्कर है? हिजाब से माहौल खराब होता है, हिजाब यहां बंद करो। क्या यह छात्राएं शादीशुदा हैं जो हिजाब पहन कर आई हैं? हिजाब पहन कर इनको सांस कैसे आती है?)
All the protesting students are studying in a government school located in the Gangapol area of Jaipur and belong to the Muslim community.
The students say that the MLA made objectionable remarks on hijab and made religious slogans at the annual function, which we do not accept at all. The students said that Hindu-Muslim will not be tolerated in the educational institution. Along with the students, their families and other people also came out on the streets in large numbers and demanded action against Balmukund Acharya.
Senior police officers also reached the spot. But the students said they would not leave until an FIR is registered.
Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafeek Khan raised this issue in the Rajasthan Assembly, saying that January 26 is the day the Constitution was implemented and on the same day, religious slogans were raised by the BJP MLA by going to school and working against the Constitution and students were told that they cannot come to school wearing hijab. On what basis are they violating the Constitution?
Mr. Khan and Congress District President RR Tiwari also reached Subhash Chowk police station to try to open the jam by explaining to the students.
MLA Balmukund Acharya often remains in the headlines for his controversial statements. Earlier, in December last year, a case was registered against him at the intervention of the court in a case of assault and abuse of a person. After the victory of BJP in Rajasthan Assembly elections 2023, his videos of getting meat shops closed in Jaipur and warning the officer on phone regarding this also went viral on social media.
