The veil is only a sex symbol, it brands women as sex objects. Throwing off the veil is one of many steps necessary for giving women their due respect and freedom and equalising them with men.

Mohammad abduh al-Ukali, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Yeah, the veil is right up there with the bikini isn't it. I cannot believe some of the nonsensical comments here! The purpose of the veil is to safeguard women from becoming sexual objects. The fact that a woman can go about her business without the fear of molestation means that she will be liberated.

SR Zakria, Burton-Upon-Trent, UK

With all the controversies poppingup she will win the election and then will be asked to resign after a year or so........

Yar, dungarpur,

Hindu Equal treatment for women? You got to be Joking! This a Religion that allows the sexual slavery of little girls. This a Religion which lynch minority women, because they believed to be practicing witch craft. This a religion that allows the mass raping of women.

Andrew, sydney ,

Contrary to hiding anything, the imposition of female Muslim attire-- on the body or about the head-- is to announce with pride their membership in the world's most notably repressive religion. It is also used, with some success, to deliberately provoke and intimidate infidels in infidel territories. The underlying beligerence in these cases is a response to the very existence of non-Muslim peoples. So we should not be surprised (by now) that every public slight will be interpreted by some Islamic group as an "insult" to Islam, but the real insult is the weak-kneed, apologetic response of Western leaders to the violent Islamic drive for hegemony.

spinifex, Roseville, CA United States

India is the only hope to stem the tide of fundamentalism

M, Brussels,

I think Ms Patil is a very brave woman by telling uncomfortable truths.
Don't forget that the jihad against the Budhists and the Hindus was against idolaters and anyone who knows the least about islam should know what that means.
In fact the Budhists were completely ethnically cleansed.

Manelis Angelakis, Athens, Greece

Why do so many peole feel the need to tell Muslim women how to dress? ie that they should NOT wear a scarf/veil? It is up to Muslim women to decide how to dress, no policitian or anyone else should dictate it- and why should a headscarf bother so many people- i dont see any other group of peole being castigated for what they wear- my view is the more covered up you are, the less unwanted attention you drive your way.

I don't see anyone saying Mrs Patil should dress in a certain way, nor her wanting to adhere to that.

Religion is personal to people- if they want to cover up for religion- what harm is it doing to anyone??

Sam, manchester,

I find it absolutely incredible that for a religion that contains the most authentic supporting traditions together with a Holy Book (Holy Qur'an) unadulterated from the time it was revealed that so much ignorance can still exist today.

For a presidential candidate to have such ignorance on Religious and Cultural Traditions of 14% of its population despite the available historical records is unforgiveable. It makes me shudder to think what other chaotic and flawed decisions she will make based on her 'World History according to Pratabha Patil'. India can do better than that. Find a more suitable candidate!

SR Zakria, Burton-Upon-Trent, UK

Can anyone point to a verse in the Quran where it is stated that women are required to wear the veil? I do not believe it exists. Wearing of veils is dreamt up by the clergy as means of enslavement of women. Those who follow this practice deserve to be the slaves that they are.

Malenkov, The Hague,

And people wonder why Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens's books are selling so well. No matter how much ridicule Hitchens heaps on religion it can never surpass the ridicule they bring on themselves.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

Well said Mrs Pratil - if I lived in Indai and could vote there she'd have my vote!

Ian, Bristol,

"the sort of violence between Hindus and Muslims that has so often racked India since it won independence from Britain in 1947"

Because of course when the British were in control, everything was fine.

John, Oxford,

Hmmm the muslims say apologize but why? It is true what she said. Seems Islam only recognizes what is in THEIR interests to recognize.

Sonny Carroll, Killeen, USA

"one of the stereotypical ideas that have been taken from the works of British historians.” Oh dear, somehow I knew it would be our fault..........

Al, Weybridge,

Wether it was brought in in the 13th or 16th century is an indication the veil is now out dated & an overt symbol which is unneccessary in todays society .
Why should a woman not show her face ? It's always the women that have to cover up the men have no restictions , doesn't that say it all. ?

Maggie Millington, Brittany, France

Of course, she is right. Women should throw away their veils and perhaps then will Islam will begin to enter the twenty first century. It seems that Muslims are intent on rolling back the tide of progress on every front, and destroying the remarkable achievements of enlightened civilization. The origin of the purdah in India is irrelevant; the fact is that as full, sentient, rational human beings women have an inalienable right to choose what they wear and that is to the glory of God.

JL, Paris, France

Throughout my life I've never ceased to wonder why people who believe in God seem to find it necessary to indulge in separative and segregatory patterns of behaviour. At school assembly every morning some would go to the Jewish group, some to the Quakers etc. Meals were similarly affected by some who would perform rituals, some abstaining from selected foods. But I never managed to get real answers to enquiries about Turbans and toras, pig meat and 'Friday fishes' etc. I was continually given a 'mantra' from whichever branch of whichever faith my particular young friend would be a member of.
Then, as now, I find it all quite irrelevant indulgence. -Even if it is 'traditional'.

tim, brighton, UK

"Orthodox Hindu women also cover their faces before elderly male relatives although it is not an obligation of their religion " actually most Hindu women cover their HAIR not face when in the presence of their elders and when in prayer. Muslim women should wear whatever they like, not what politicians nor local communities deem socially acceptable.

nim, lincoln,

Muslim dogmatism comes in the way of logical and progressive thinking. Sam Harris is a great proponent of this view and I support it.
I find nothing wrong in this candidate's statement. Islam is a religion of conquest and Muslims did invade India as they did Spain and other parts of the world back in the day.
That said, it is really up to the Muslim representatives to quell rabid Mullahs and Imams from making statements that reek in backwardness. Muslims really need to question their religious practices, as do other dogmatic and non-progressive faiths.

Aditya Iyer, toronto, Ontario

The veil is only a sex symbol, it brands women as sex objects. Throwing off the veil is one of many steps necessary for giving women their due respect and freedom and equalising them with men. Their equality with men in
Islam they enjoy (legally) at 50 percent. It is about time to raise them a bit further than that. Men are no woman-eaters, and women created in the image of God should not be ashamed from showing their faces unless these faces are too ugly and were created in the image of the Devil.

Mohammad abduh al-Ukali, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

I think that one should be able to choose whether to wear or not the "purdah". An imposition, both positive and negative, is in contrast with our current principles of individual freedom and democracy.
What i find really important is that one should be completely aware and confident with the meanings of its own traditions' symbols.
I think that the greater problem is that many persons follow religion's principles without deeply knowing them...the greater problem is ignorance...that gives few people the ability to decide for the most.

paolo, Turin, Italy

There we go again. It seems anything that anyone around the World says regarding islam is taken up as insult. These people are doing their best to stifle free speech of any kind.
It is the view of many people that they must have something to hide, and the rest of the World should tell them in no un-certain manner to shut up.

Chris Jaggo, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside