Those who travel via Mumbai locals might be aware of the crowded coaches and the difficulty to fetch a seat. Some commuters also take to adjust over a fourth seating, until they manage to get a proper one. However, in a recent incident that came into notice via social media, a woman was denied her seat for wearing a hijab.
Taking to the micro-blogging platform Twitter, Dr Parvez Mandviwala mentioned the inconvenience faced by his wife during her travel in the Mumbai locals. "My wife was denied a seat in a local train today because she was wearing a #Hijab. A gentleman vacated his seat for her, but other passengers insisted some sari-clad ladies take the seat instead, despite the fact that my wife was carrying our infant child..." said Dr. Parvez.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey in a reply to this wrote, "This is ridiculous." Also, Government Railway Police GRP addressed the issue by regretting the experience that the family had to go through and suggested them to file a complaint for further assistance in this regard.
Dr. Parvez happens to be a resident of Mira Road and a dentist by profession. Speaking to the Free Press Journal, he said, "... It is not about my wife or my family, but about the society we are evolving into and the environment we are heading towards. That is my only concern."
"We need to engage in a positive dialogue with each other to counter this Islamophobic narrative," he added. However, that being said by the concerned, the travel route was noted as Nallasopara to Mira Road, and that it took place on Tuesday morning.
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