Facing stiff opposition from Muslims to its move to bar veiled customers from shops, the Jewellers Association of Maharashtra on Friday said it was prepared to adopt other security measures.
It said the decision was taken to avoid hurting the religious sentiments of any community.
"We didn't intend to hurt the sentiments of any religious community. Taking advantage of veils, many gangs have robbed our stores," Fatehchand Ranka, the association's president, said.
"If our plan to bar veiled customers from jewellery shops hurt any community's religious sentiments, we are ready to look for other security options," he said, adding, "As closed circuit cameras are also of no use the robbers are still at large," he said.
The association's move to seek permission from authorities to bar veiled customers to prevent robberies was criticised by Islamic clerics and organisations, who said Muslims would boycott shops that imposed such a restriction.
Abdul Rahim Qureshi, assistant general secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said the jewellers' move was based on unfounded allegations and inspired by anti-Islamic sentiments.
"Their change has come after Muslims threatened a boycott and they realised this could hurt their business," Qureshi said.
In response to a shutdown called by the jewellers', some 5,000 shops in Pune were closed on Friday and the owners and workers took out a rally from its office to the offices of the district collector and police commissioner.
© 2025 Rediff.com -