BJP MLA from Hawa Mahal Balmukund Acharya has issued a clarification following allegations by some Muslim girls of a public school that he objected to their hijab.
Jaipur हवामहल के विधायक बालमुकुंद आचार्य के खिलाफ मुस्लिम महिलाओं द्वारा नारेबाजी करवाई जा रही है क्योंकि उन्होने स्कूल यूनिफॉर्म से हिजाब हटवाने के लिए आवाज उठाई।#Karnataka के बाद अब #Rajasthan में उठेगा विवाद?#balmukundacharyapic.twitter.com/J1J7l3tKo1
— Sujeet Swami️ (@shibbu87) January 29, 2024
Muslim girls of a government school in Jaipur’s Gangapol took to the streets earlier today (29th January) staging protests against BJP MLA from Hawa Mahal Balmukund Acharya.
The students have alleged that Balmukund Acharya, who was invited to the school’s annual function as a guest by the students, raised Jai Shri Ram slogans and objected to their hijab.
राजस्थान : भाजपा विधायक बालमुकुंद आचार्य के ख़िलाफ़ मुस्लिम छात्राओं का प्रदर्शन
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) January 29, 2024
◆ बालमुकुंद आचार्य ने हमारे हिजाब को लेकर बातें की और धार्मिक नारे लगाए, यह हमें कतई मंजूर नहीं है
Balmukund Acharya | #BalmukundAcharya pic.twitter.com/SWjaLQvX2p
The BJP MLA in a clarification video said that he had sought information from the school that when national events are being celebrated on 26th January and so, is there a provision for two types of dress codes.
He said that the school said no such provision is there but “the children don’t listen”. “I saw two types of atmospheres unfolding in the school as some girls were wearing burqa or hijab. I asked the principal what if our (Hindu) girls also came in their respective clothes then? When there is a decided dress code given by the school and they are not even objecting, they just need to be guided. This is what I asked the principal,” Balmukund Acharya said.
He alleged that his complete video from the event will clear the picture and that some people are politicising the issue and blowing it out of proportion.
Responding to the Muslim students objecting that the BJP MLA raised religious slogans, he said that he had chanted ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. “Is it wrong?” he asked. The BJP MLA said these points are not justified.
A video of the same has gone viral showing the BJP leader’s discussion with the school principal and authorities about the institution’s dress code.
Jaipur- A video of BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya went viral on social media in which he says that the Environment is bad because of Hijab.
— هارون خان (@iamharunkhan) January 29, 2024
Muslim Girl students surround Subhash Chowk police station, demand action against Bal Mukund Acharya.🧵 pic.twitter.com/A3ktDC0ble
In the video, the BJP MLA can be heard asking the principal why are the girls’ students wearing hijab. In the video, Balmukund Acharya can be heard telling the school authorities not to allow hijab. However, no derogatory remarks can be heard as is being propagated.
Furthermore, when the BJP MLA is on his way out of the school amidst a crowd of students, one of the students can be heard chanting Jai Shri Ram to which the MLA responds with the same chant. This is followed by chants of ‘Vande Mataram’.
Enraged over this, the Muslim girls along with their families staged a protest near the Subhash Chowk police station and indulged in sloganeering holding placards. Some motivated accounts on X are also taking to sensational language.
This is from Jaipur.
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) January 29, 2024
BJP lawmaker Balmukund Acharya made derogatory remarks about Hijab in a school. He demands Hijab ban in school.
Muslim girls allege that he asked them to chant "Jai Sri Ram".
Muslim girls protested against BJP MLA. pic.twitter.com/99W3jz4bcJ
Several videos of the protest are going viral on social media. In the videos, the Muslim students can be heard saying that they invited the BJP MLA and objecting to Hindu slogans chanted by him.
One of the protest videos shows the girls chanting “Nara-e-takbeer, Allah-hu-akbar”, the Jihadist clarion call or slogan that calls for the consolidation and expansion of the Muslim Ummah. Among other slogans were “Hijab humari shaan hai”, “Baba maafi mangega (Baba will apologise), and “Patti patti phool phool ya rasool ya rasool”.
In another video, a Muslim woman can be heard objecting to Balmukund Acharya, PM Modi and UP CM Yogi’s clothes. She can be heard making allegations that the BJP MLA asked the Muslim girls to chant Jai Shri Ram.
The woman asked why the BJP MLA objected to the dress code of Muslim girls. The woman goes on to incite on video seeking support for the protests. She said that she had raised the issue after the Karnataka hijab incident and had written a letter to Ashok Gehlot too.
