A group of Muslim leaders in Bhopal on Saturday passed a resolution advocating the boycott of Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha, and asked the central government to ban the controversial movie for hurting the community’s religious sentiments.
The All India Muslim Tehwar Committee, which met here under the chairmanship of Ausaf Shahmeeri Khurram, also disclosed plans to take legal action against the movie.
The movie, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha, revolves around four women – a burkha-clad college student, a young beautician, a mother of three and a 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her sexuality.
Khurram told that nobody has the right to comment on a “sensitive issue” like the burkha, which is worn out of choice by Muslim women. “If somebody peeps into the burkha worn by our sisters and daughters, we won’t remain silent. Burkha is an Islamic tradition, and nobody has the right to talk about it in a negative way,” he said.
He said the “tradition of burkha” was not limited solely to Muslims. “Even Hindu women in various parts of the country – including Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh – opt for parda dhari (using a veil to cover the face). In such circumstances, why should they focus only on us with regard to such a sensitive, personal matter?” Khurram argued.
