Congress dilemma is BJP’s trump card

While the BJP has won approval among Muslim women who have been crusading against instant triple talaq by its unequivocal welcome to the Supreme Court’s majority judgement outlawing the practice, the Opposition as a whole looks confused and bewildered about what line to take. The reason is that while opposition parties are wary of how Muslim men would react to a judgement that takes away their authority over matters of divorce, the BJP, which is by and large not a beneficiary of Muslim votes in elections since it is viewed as an ultra Hindu party sees an opportunity to wean away Muslim women to its side. The Opposition dilemma is best reflected in the stand taken by former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal of the Congress. Sibal, who had been spearheading the case of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in the apex court expressed relief after the judgement that the court had set aside a ‘sinful practice.’ Coming from a person who had been opposing the petition asking for scrapping of instant triple talaq, this was indeed a laughable volte face which was in line with the Congress’ welcome to the Supreme Court judgement.

In fact, in his arguments Sibal had equated the issue of triple talaq with the belief that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, arguing that these were matters of faith which could not be put to test on grounds of constitutional morality. But when his party decided to back the apex court decision, political loyalties reigned over professional stand. Interestingly, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav who is normally very vocal on various issues was restrained in his response. His observation that “Muslims have their personal law and they will respond accordingly to this judgment and so will I and that he won’t like to say much,” was symbolic of his dilemma considering that he depends a lot on minority appeasement. Trinamool Congress’Mamata Banerjee who too leans heavily on the minorities vote in West Bengal has been tightlipped and so has Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav. The dilemma is indeed acute because while they are wary of how Muslim men would react, they cannot be seen to be supporting regressive action like instant triple talaq. Fate has indeed served a trumpcard to the BJP on a platter.