Belong to an inclusive India, says Nusrat Jahan about ‘mangalsutra-sindoor’ controversy

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, June 29

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First-time Member of Parliament Nusrat Jahan said on Saturday she represented “inclusive India” after her “mangalsutra-sindoor” attire in Parliament recently drew vicious trolling and led to Muslim cleric calling what she was wearing “un-Islamic”.

Nusrat Jahan, a popular Bengali actress and first-time Trinamool Congress MP from Basirhat, responded to the allegations with a tweet that said: “I represent an inclusive India which is beyond the barriers of caste creed and religion. As much as I respect all religions, I still remain a Muslim, and no one should comment on what I choose to wear. Faith is beyond attire, and is more about believing and practicing the invaluable doctrines of all religions”.

She followed up the statement with: “Paying heed or reacting to comments made by hardliners of any religion only breeds hatred and violence, and history bears testimony to that”.

The remarks came hours after press reports quoted two opposite but equally controversial views over her attire.

The first was from a Muslim cleric. "Islam says a Muslim can marry only a Muslim. I have got to know that Nusrat is a film actor and people in the cinema do not care about religious practices. They do what they have to," ANI quoted Mufti Asad Quasmi of Madrasa Jamia Sheikh-ul-Hind as saying.

He also questioned the parliamentarian's decision to marry a Jain man.

Jahan recently married Kolkata businessman Nikhil Jain at a wedding in Turkey.

The second view came from a controversial Hindu leader Sadhvi Prachi. In her statements to the press, she was quoted as criticising the cleric and welcoming Jahan into what she claimed was her "community".

"This is a good thing. A woman like Nusrat shall come into our community because their future is secure in our religion. She understands that the Hindu religion respects women," ANI quoted her as telling the press in Muzaffarnagar.

Paying heed or reacting to comments made by hardliners of any religion only breeds hatred and violence, and history bears testimony to that..

— Nusrat (@nusratchirps)