Probe possible links between Muskaan Khan and ‘unseen hands’ behind hijab row: Anantkumar Hegde

Hegde claimed that Muskaan's act had become global news and that she was rewarded by several Muslim organisations, followed by the praise from Al-Zawahiri.

Reacting to a question about Hegde's letter, Bommai said he will speak to him and ask him to share information in this regard, if any. (File)

BJP MP and former union minister Anant Kumar Hegde wrote to Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai demanding an investigation into possible links between the student Muskaan Khan and ‘unseen hands’ behind the hijab row.

In a recent video, Al Qaeda’s chief Ayman Al Zawahiri had praised the student, a resident of Mandya, who had defended the use of hijab in educational institutions and chanted slogans of ‘Allahu Akbar’ while being heckled by a group of men wearing saffron shawls in February this year.

In a letter dated April 8, Hegde pointed to ‘unseen hands’ behind the hijab row and banned outfits in the state. He claimed that Muskaan’s act had become global news and that she was rewarded by several Muslim organisations, followed by the praise from Al-Zawahiri.

“The High Court too in the hijab verdict had suggested the possibility of involvement of some unseen hands behind the row over wearing of the headscarf in classrooms of educational institutions. So, I hereby request for a detailed probe into the possible links between the student Muskaan, and unseen hands behind the hijab row and banned organisation,” he said.

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In response, Bommai said that he will speak to Hegde and ask him to share relevant information in the case. “Let’s see, I don’t know what is there. I will talk to Anantkumar Hegde regarding the information he has. Based on it, we will take necessary action,” he told reporters.

Home Minister Jnanendra said that the government has taken the issue seriously. He said, “I can’t share full details regarding the investigation since it’s not a normal case. Zawahiri is the head of an international terrorist organisation. If he has spoken about our Karnataka girl, we have to take it seriously.”

In a nine-minute-long video released by Al-Qaeda mouthpiece As-Sahab media, Zawahiri had said that Muskaan’s actions were a moral lesson to women who consider themselves inferior to the women in the West.

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Muskaan, a second-year B.Com student, had arrived at the PES College in Mandya to submit an assignment when she was heckled at the peak of the hijab row in Karnataka. After the video of Zawahiri came out, Muskaan’s father Mohammed Hussain had said, “We do not know who he is and why he is involved in an issue of my country. I don’t even know who he is and it is wrong to take my daughter’s name. I am happy in my country. We do not need them (Al Qaeda) to speak about our country’s issues. They are just spoiling our peace.”

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