If you ban burqa, outlaw ghoonghat too, says Javed Akhtar

BHOPAL: Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar on Thursday said he was not averse to enacting a law banning burqa if it was accompanied with a similar action against the ‘ghoonghat’ system prevalent among women in Rajasthan.
Akhtar’s comment came in the wake of Shiv Sena mouthpiece on Wednesday urging the government to emulate Sri Lanka in banning burqa on grounds of national security. “If you want to bring a law banning burqa, I have no objection. But before the last phase of election in Rajasthan, this government should announce a ban on the practice of ‘ghoonghat’ (covering of the face by Hindu women) in that state,” Akhtar said.
“I feel that ‘ghoonghat’ should go and burqa should go. I will be happy,” he said.
Speaking further on the issue, the Bollywood veteran said, "Brother, I have little knowledge of the burqa as there were working women in my family and I haven't seen the practice at my home."
"Iraq is a very orthodox Muslim country but the women there do not cover their faces. The law in Sri Lanka (now), too, forbids face cover," said the celebrated screenwriter, a Padma Bhushan awardee.