Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's call for a burqa ban through its editorial in Saamna (the regional power's mouthpiece) has, as expected, fuelled a huge controversy. The call comes in the wake of Sri Lanka banning the face veil (and face coverings) in public, in the wake of Islamist terror attacks on churches that killed at least 250 last month.

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"If Sri Lanka, a liberal, democratic, small nation which has Muslim, Sinhalese, Christians and Hindus living together can implement this ban for national security, why can't India put in place a face veil ban in public places?" asked Raut. Raut dismissed accusations about what critics sarcastically called "apt timing" of the burqa ban demand given that elections are on and efforts to polarise are ongoing. "Polling has ended in Maharashtra," he asserted, "In fact,' Raut said, the statements that the "Election Commission (EC) must take note of this is all nonsense. Even earlier, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have spoken about a burqa ban."