PATNA – A decision by jewellery traders in the Indian state of Bihar has sparked a political controversy after shops announced restrictions on customers entering with covered faces, including those wearing hijab, niqab or burqa.
All India Jewellers and Gold Federation (AIGJF) said that the decision has been taken purely on security grounds. The federation stated that any customer—male or female—who enters a jewellery shop with their face covered by a scarf, burqa, niqab or helmet will be required to reveal their face for identification before making a purchase.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Party spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad strongly condemned the decision, terming it unconstitutional. He said the measure targets religious freedom under the pretext of security and hurts the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Ahmad alleged that the decision reflects the agenda of the BJP and RSS and demanded that the AIGJF immediately withdraw the directive.
Meanwhile, Bihar Jewellers Federation’s state president Ashok Kumar Verma defended the move, saying Bihar is the first state where such a rule has been implemented across the province. He explained that the decision was taken solely due to security concerns, particularly in light of rising gold and silver prices and recent incidents of robbery.
Verma clarified that the restriction is not aimed at any specific religion and will apply equally to both men and women. He said shop staff will politely request cooperation from the customers and that no force will be used. He added that the police have also supported the initiative.
The issue has once again highlighted the ongoing debate in Bihar over balancing security concerns with religious freedom as the political reactions to the decision continue to emerge.
