Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Muslims who have deeper knowledge of the holy Quran will not support the ongoing Hijab row in the country. He alleged that the Hijab issue is being blown out of proportion by a section of politically motivated Muslims for vested interest.

“The first word of Quran is ‘Ikra” which means read. The prophet Hazrat Mohammed asked his followers even to visit China for the sake of attaining knowledge. If Muslim can go to China, they will have to follow different rules. So, inherent message of the Quran is that gaining knowledge or wisdom is more important. It is not important what to wear when attaining knowledge.

“There are two kinds of Muslims in our society. One who truly follows the Quran’s words; the other  always tries to politicize the Muslim issues. The second group believes in political appeasement of Muslims which our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is opposing.

“The Prime Minister wants the Muslim’s equal participation in the nation’s building,” Sarma said while interacting with media persons in Guwahati on Saturday.

Sarma said the need of the hour is to make Muslim girls educated so much that they could become doctors, engineers and scientists.

On the other hand, addressing an election rally in Uttarakhand on Friday, Assam Chief Minister said that colleges and schools are “not for fashion shows.”

“Muslim girls also have a right to study and to become doctors, engineers. Why are you getting them stuck in the hijab issue?” Sarma said.

Sarma took a jibe at the Congress party, stating that the party is saying “girls should wear hijab and wear nothing else.”

“Appeasement is in Congress’ DNA. It has worked relentlessly to appease the Muslims for getting their votes. But instead of working for their advancement, the party wants the Muslims to remain backward and hence is promoting madrassas and hijab,” Sarma said.