In Madhya Pradesh the newly elected Satna mayor Mamta Pandey has kicked up a controversy by issuing a diktat that girls in the city would be handed over to police if they are found hiding their face behind the veils while venturing out of their homes. Pandey said that municipal corporation would act strongly against such girls. The mayor, while talking to media persons, made it clear that Hindu religion has a tradition of women covering their heads while Muslim girls put on veils. Similarly, women of other religion also cover their heads. But this does not mean that women forget their culture and start moving around like thieves by covering their face, she said.The mayor further said that criminal elements move around under the veil and commit criminal activities and "preventing such practice is a duty of every aware citizen." Talking to media persons, Pandey issued a strict warning to all the parents. “Women are entitled to privacy but women should not hide behind veil. In anyone wants to protect herself against the sun, then she should use umbrella, then it should be done in a way that the person can be recognized.
