Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM), Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday (5 November) called for the society to give up on the custom of ghoonghat which is prevalent among several rural regions of India, calling the practice a custom of the bygone era, reports The Hindu.

Stressing on women empowerment to build a better India, CM Gehlot questioned the relevance of the practice in today's times and asked, "What is right in confining a woman to ghoonghat?" He also emphasised that women cannot progress till the practice of ghoonghat exists.

Underscoring the importance of emancipating all women from the age-old practice, CM Gehlot said that such women who still have to abide by ghoonghat will be able to come forward and play a constructive role in nation-building exercise if they are not forced to cover their faces.

Rajasthan CM was speaking at an event organised by an NGO in Jaipur when he made the statements. State's Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh was also present at the event which also witnessed CM Gehlot presenting statements on subjects of women security and child marriage.