Call for ban votebank politics by Centre, BJP

The triple talaq issue has already united Muslims in poll-bound UP. Several Muslim bodies have criticised the Centre’s stand, calling it a violation of a citizen’s right to freedom of religion.

In my opinion triple talaq is not a human rights issue at all. It is a religious practice followed by the Muslim community. Such religious matters should not be dragged into the courts and the state should also not interfere in religious practices of any community. The Centre’s stand on banning triple talaq is simply votebank politics. The BJP is politicising the issue to woo voters in the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. We need to understand why the BJP-led government is talking only of triple talaq. Except for certain matriarchal societies, such as those in parts of the Northeast, most women still have no right to agricultural land. A large number of women still defecate in open fields for want of proper toilet facilities. We are not talking about core issues concerning women in our country.

I once again reiterate that the State should not interfere in anyone’s religious practices. In any developed country, the law is made after consultation with stakeholders. But the BJP-led Centre has joined the debate on triple talaq with infectious belligerence to ensure a Hindu-Muslim divide. In Islam, marriage is a social contract with clear conditions to be noted down in a nikahnama (marriage contract). It also provides for affirmative provisions for a bride such as mehr (dower). The holy book gives equal rights to both husband and wife to seek divorce. The Sachar Committee Report has established that Indian Muslims are marginalised and they live in poverty and socio-economic backwardness. It is very important that ordinary Muslim women and men are educated about the Quranic principles of justice and fairness concerning divorce. Muslim women can get justice through a comprehensive reform in Muslim personal law based on a Quranic framework. This is permitted by the Constitution as well.

Studies suggest that talaq-related issues are far less in Muslims in comparison to other communities. Every now and then we hear about married men having live-in relationships with other women. We need to address such issues on a priority basis as they are not only eating into our social fabric but are also denying married women their legitimate, legal and emotional rights.

It is high time we stop talking about beef politics, Babri Masjid and triple talaq and focus more on development activities for the welfare of our citizens. Instead of promoting communal harmony, the BJP is simply spreading hatred by raking up contentious issues. The triple talaq issue has already united Muslims in poll-bound UP. Several Muslim bodies have criticised the Centre’s stand, calling it a violation of a citizen’s right to freedom of religion. Some Muslim leaders have even appealed to their community members to follow the example of pro-Jallikattu protesters in Tamil Nadu to support the Islamic practice. At the end of the day, the triple talaq issue is going to cost the BJP dearly in the coming polls. (As told to Sanjay Kaw) Chatter Singh is a Delhi Congress leader