Jewllery
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Women wearing hijab or burqa will not be allowed to purchase gold in Bihar unless they reveal their faces, following a directive issued by the All India Jewellers and Gold Federation. Under the guideline, customers who enter jewellery showrooms with their faces covered will be denied entry. The rule will also apply to men who cover their faces with gamchas, helmets or similar items.
According to the federation, Bihar has become the first state in the country to formally implement such a measure, effectively restricting gold purchases by women wearing hijab or burqa unless facial identification is possible. The decision, the federation said, has been taken purely in the interest of security.
State president of the All India Jewellers and Gold Federation, Ashok Kumar Verma, said the step was necessitated by a rise in robbery incidents at jewellery shops. “Our decision is entirely based on security concerns. The price of 10 grams of gold has reached ₹1,40,000, while one kilogram of silver costs ₹2,50,000. Problems arise when people enter shops with their faces covered. Some arrive wearing full helmets or veils, come in groups of three or four, and commit robberies,” he said.
Verma clarified that the intention was not to oppose the burqa or hijab. “We will only request customers who come wearing hijab or burqa to show their faces while making a purchase. I am confident they will understand and cooperate,” he said.
He added that the appeal also extends to men who cover their faces with gamchas or helmets, making identification difficult. “This decision has been taken strictly from a security perspective,” Verma said.
Speaking specifically about Muslim women, Verma stated, “I am not against the burqa. But when a customer and a shopkeeper interact face to face, a sense of trust is established. This rule is not aimed at any particular community; it applies equally to everyone.”
Verma said he had discussed the matter with the Central SP of Patna City, who raised no objections. “Bihar is the first state to take such a major decision, although in some districts of other states similar rules are followed as a precautionary measure,” he noted.
Responding to concerns about possible protests, Verma said there was no reason for opposition. “Neither male nor female staff will ask anyone to remove their hijab. We will only make a polite request to show the face. There is no scope for any dispute,” he added.
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