J&K CM assures security as girl band decides to quit

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that full security will be provided to the members of the state's first girl band if they wanted to pursue their music career.

"The decision to continue or not continue lies with the band. Jammu and Kashmir always had a musical history. The girls can continue their musical career. The state will provide security," said Omar, in an interview to CNN-IBN.

The young Chief Minister added that Islam did not sanction threatening people. The band on Monday decided to quit after a fatwa was issued against them by the valley's Grand Mufti, Bashir-ud-Din, who said that women must live in purdah at all times. Blaming women for the increase in crimes against them, he said that women must desist from performing in public as otherwise, there will be no difference between "our women and film actresses".

The opposition party in Jammu and Kashmir, People's Democratic Party's Mehbooba Mufti too slammed the fatwa against the girls saying it was unreasonable. She urged the state government to intervene and take action.

Naeem Akhtar of the PDP said, "Mufti sahab has made it a habit of issuing fatwas on every thing. It gives Islam a bad name. Music is an intrinsic part of Kashmir's culture, we have had many great singers."

Najma Heptullah of the BJP said, "If God has given talent to someone, then to use God's name to put a ban on it is wrong."