It is ridiculous to ask why is Mamata Banerjee wearing a hijab and praying on Eid?
Mamata is into wearing hijab to offer prayers, Muslim-style, and iftaar parties for nearly two decades now or maybe more. To say that Mamata has got into this gear to woo the Muslim voters for the forthcoming Assembly elections would be very wrong. Whether in power as a union minister or without power as Opposition leader, Mamata is known for her strong secular credentials and for standing by the Muslims in the times of crisis in her political career.
Every time, there has been communal tension in the country in the last two decades, Mamata has barged out of her residence to pacify the sentiments of the Hindus and the Muslims. She has gone out of her way to talk with the representatives of the Muslim society and their religious leaders and the Hindus to make them see reason and restore communal harmony.
I have seen her rushing to Mumbai after the Mumbai Riots in the early Nineties, driving through the tense areas of Kolkata as army patrolled the city after a communal tension, flying to Mumbai and Delhi after the Zaveri Bazar blasts and the Parliament attack. In fact, the real scenario is that over the years Mamata has won over the support of the Muslims because of her balanced stand and sympathy for the minority community.
And as for her wearing the hijab. It is a known fact that whenever Mamata is invited to attend a Muslim religious function, at the time of prayer, Muslim leaders offer her the hijab and ask her to participate. She promptly agrees with many other Hindus present there.
So if Mamata has no problems and Muslims have no qualms in having her with them in hijab, what's the problem with others in a secular country?
