In Rantej village of Mehsana district of North Gujarat, State Education Minister Jitu Vaghani took a unique initiative to make women come out of the veil tradition. Let us inform that in Rantej village, Minister Vaghani had come to participate in a program. During this, he asked the first woman sarpanch of the village on the stage to remove the veil as a tradition. Hearing this, many villagers present there were astonished.
In fact, Meenaba had gone on stage to honor the state education minister Jitu Vaghani by presenting a framed picture of Bahuchar Mata to her. During this, Minaba was covering her face with a veil. To which Vaghani said in front of the villagers present, “If the elders sitting here give permission, then I will request Minaba to come out of this custom (veil tradition).
However, on this request of the minister, many people sitting in front also protested. A man from the crowd said, “Sahib, we are Rajputs.” To which the minister Vaghani said, “Rajput, Patel, Bania or Brahmin…what does caste have to do with it? Look how happy the women are and how much they will bless you.”
He said that honor is fine but when you are the sarpanch then you have to come out of these traditions. Let the village decide this. Look around, where the world has reached. Removing the veil does not destroy our dignity. Follow everyone but at home. I hate customs but we have to change with the times and come out of it so that we can move forward.
Further, Vaghani insisted on asking the women sitting in the crowd to remove their veil. On this appeal of the minister, an elder of the village present on the stage also expressed his consent. During this, Sarpanch Meenaba also removed his veil. Please tell that a separate chair was arranged on the stage for Minaba. Although she was on the edge of the stage.
Minaba said, “The minister is right. We should keep our veil till home and need to come out of this tradition. We are behind the scenes at home anyway but we need to move with the times.” Let us inform that six months ago, four male candidates were defeated by Meenaba in the election of Sarpanch.
