NEW DELHI — Protest in a democratic way, even if against a court’s judgment, is a fundamental right of every citizen of India. But the BJP doesn’t seem to concede the basic right to Muslims. If this is not the case, why would invoke the ghost of Jinnah while commenting on a simple bandh call against the recent high court judgment on hijab.

Reacting to the bandh call given by Muslim organisations against verdict on wearing of hijab in classrooms, BJP’s National General Secretary C T Ravi, on Thursday, said that people need to shed the Jinnah mindset, reports IANS.

“They did the same thing after the Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case. Then Congress government under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi succumbed to their pressure. This is not the time to continue with your agenda,” Ravi said.

“Come out of Jinnah mindset and inculcate Indinaness. The Jinnah agenda won’t work now,” he said.

“If they think that they can threaten courts, courts would not bother, if they think they can threaten the government, it is not possible. This is BJP government which sees the national interest as paramount,” he further elaborated.

If the verdict is as per their wishes, they will talk about Constitution and courts. If they get reverse judgment, they talk about their agenda, Ravi said.

“This is not a government which will bog down, it is also not possible to create any fear in the government,” he said.

Muslim organisations have given a bandh call on Thursday against the verdict of the special bench of the Karnataka High Court which banned hijab in classrooms. The police have deployed tight security in the sensitive areas.