She hasn’t yet won the Presidential race but Pratibha Patil has become controversy’s favourite child ever since her name was confirmed as UPA nominee.
After inviting the ire of Muslim groups with her statement that veils were introduced to protect Indian women against Mughal invaders Patil reportedly did a U-turn on Tuesday when in a meeting with some prominent Muslim leaders she reportedly praised the contribution of Muslim leaders.
Newspaper reports quote president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Maulana Arshad Madani as saying that Patil told him “just the opposite” of what she had said in her speech in Udaipur.
Madani was among the prominent Muslim leaders – including senior Congress leader Hasan Ahmad and former Delhi Mayor Talat Sultan – who met her on Tuesday to express their opinions on the issue.
Madani is said to exercise considerable has influence on a large number of Muslim leaders throughout the country.
The newspaper reports during her meeting with the maulana, Patil tried to remove the “misunderstanding” that she was anti Muslim or anti purdah.
She is said to have told Madani that her comment was “presented out of context”.
In what is being seen as an effort to appease the minorities to garner votes for her Presidential elections, Patil reportedly told Madani that “Mughals respected women so much that the introduced the purdah.”
Reports quote Madani as saying that he was impressed with her explanation. He also expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the presidential nominee tried to clear the air about the controversy.
Jamiat has influence on Assam United Democratic front that has 10 MLAs in Assam Assembly and Madani is also a Rajya Sabha MP. Hence, these votes are crucial for Pratibha in the election.
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