Rane Calls For Uniform Corporate Dress Code Amid ‘Corporate Jihad’ Row

“Companies should not enforce dress codes selectively. Just like there are regulations regarding hijab and burqa permits in schools and colleges, similar restrictions should also apply in the corporate sector to ensure fairness in the office,” Rane said on Wednesday.

Commenting on the controversy regarding Lenskart’s dress code policy, the minister said, “We also believe in God. So why should corporate sectors allow hijab and burqa while tilak is not allowed? If the practices of one religion are restricted, others should also be treated equally. There are debates about permissions for hijab and burqa in schools and colleges. Likewise, these should also be banned to ensure justice in corporate spaces. They should not be implemented selectively.”

His remarks came after Lenskart’s internal dress code banning bindi and tilak for in-store employees went viral on social media, causing an uproar. Following the controversy, Lenskart released a standard style guide, saying it welcomes every symbol of faith and culture.

Last week, Rane had sparked a controversy by claiming ‘corporate jihad’ in Maharashtra over allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at an IT company office in Nashik.

Alleging that professional platforms are being misused as a tool for proselytizing, the minister said giving priority to Hindus in corporate jobs is the ‘need of the hour’ to prevent ‘jihadist activities’ and strengthen the ‘Hindu rash’.

“If every platform, from commerce to corporate offices, is being used to target Hindus through various forms of jihad, it is time for a definitive response,” Rane said.

His remarks were in reference to allegations of conversion and sexual harassment that surfaced at a BPO unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik. Police arrested eight employees, including seven men and a woman operations manager, from the TCS unit in this case.