Speaking to The Indian Express from Deoband, Madani said: “She explained to me that her statement on the veil had been misinterpreted and twisted. She praised the Mughals for having made India their own, and for having made a great contribution to political, economic, social and cultural systems of India. She said she had meant that the Mughals respected women so much that the practice of purdah became more prevalent in their times. She made it clear that she wasn’t referring to Mughals as unpleasant elements who had forced women to adopt the veil.”

Madani said she had told him that “she was personally pained at the campaign against her, as some people were trying to politicize the high office of the President by distorting her statement.”

“The office of the President is a non-partisan one and it is important that the person occupying it is free from prejudices of any sort, said Madani. “We decided to get a clarification first-hand. A person is entitled to clarify what they actually meant by their own words. They must be heard out and given a chance to explain any misgivings. I was pleased with what she told me this week.”