Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Saba Haroon Khan on Wednesday strongly defended the practice of wearing the hijab, calling it a matter of dignity and personal choice, and urged that it should not be turned into a political issue.
Speaking to ANI, Khan said the hijab represents self-respect for Muslim women and is similar to how women from other communities also cover their heads in different ways. “Hijab is our dignity. You can see North Indians covering half of their face with a dupatta as well. Similarly, this is our dignity showing we are Muslims. People from various communities cover their heads,” she said.
Her statement comes amid renewed political debate over religious symbols and personal choices. Khan stressed that wearing the hijab is not a new practice for her and has never been an issue earlier.
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Father Haroon Khan backs daughter, questions controversy
Backing her, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Haroon Khan, her father, said his daughter has always worn the hijab, including during elections, without any objections from voters or the public. “She has always been in hijab, even through the elections, but nobody had an issue. Even the people who voted for her did not have an issue. If voters don’t have a problem, then why should anyone else have a problem?” he said.
Saba Haroon Khan recently won the civic polls from Versova’s Ward No. 64 by a margin of 3,768 votes. Her victory, despite wearing the hijab throughout her campaign, has been cited by party leaders as proof that voters care more about work and leadership than personal appearance.
Kishori Pednekar elected leader of Sena (UBT) corporators
Meanwhile, political developments continued in Mumbai’s civic body. Former mayor Kishori Pednekar was elected as the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators. She also won the Mumbai Municipal Corporation election from Ward No. 199, defeating Rupal Kusale of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.
These events follow the sweeping victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra civic elections. The alliance won 25 out of 29 municipal corporations, including the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This result ended the Thackeray family’s nearly 30-year control over the BMC.
Seat tally: BJP emerges largest party, Sena (UBT) leads opposition
In the 227-member BMC, the Mahayuti alliance crossed the majority mark of 114 by securing 118 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) won 29 seats.
Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats and emerged as the leading opposition. It polled 7,17,736 votes, which is 13.13 per cent of the total votes cast. Contesting in alliance with the MNS, the combined tally reached 71 seats, with MNS adding six seats and securing 74,946 votes.
The Congress won 24 seats with 2,42,646 votes, while AIMIM made gains with eight seats in Mumbai and over 100 seats statewide.
Against this political backdrop, Saba Haroon Khan’s remarks underline a message her party wants to send that personal faith and dignity should remain separate from political battles, and that voters, not controversies, are the real judges in a democracy.
