NEW DELHI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- India's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday rejected demand of its alliance partner Shiv Sena (SS) to ban "burqa" (a veil worn by Muslim women to cover their faces) in a bid to check terror incidents.
The SS had in an editorial in its mouthpiece "Saamna" demanded a ban on "burqa" taking a cue from Sri Lanka, which banned the piece of Muslim women's garment in the aftermath of recent multiple blasts killing more than 250 and injuring around 500.
In the aftermath of the blasts, the Sri Lankan authorities on April 29 issued a ban on all facial coverings in the country.
The BJP is the second constituent of the country's ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), after the Republican Party of India (RPI), to oppose the SS' demand banning the Muslim women's face-wear.
Four phases of the India's parliamentary polls are over, while three more phases are to take place on May 6, 10, and 19. Results are to be announced on May 23.
