The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Saturday urged Muslim women in India to take to the streets to protest against the practice of triple talaq. Asserting that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board was not a "democratic body", RSS leader Rakesh Sinha told ANI that the board does not represent the entire Muslim community, only the "orthodox, conservatives".
Sinha urged Muslim women in India to follow the example of women in Pakistan, who had launched countrywide protests in 1956 after the then prime minister Ali Bogra divorced his wife following the triple talaq practice. The agitations had forced the Pakistani government to revise laws related to the Islamic practice, he said. "There should be complete equality between men and women, irrespective of religion, caste, region and language," the RSS leader said, adding that a referendum should be held for Muslim women to decide on the subject.
The RSS' remarks come a day after Union minister Venkaiah Naidu asked the Muslim law board to not politicise the issue of triple talaq, after the body announced its decision to boycott the questionnaire released by the Law Commission to seek public opinion on religious practices. The board had argued that the Uniform Civil Code was unconstitutional and had accused the government of creating discord between communities.
Moreover, Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said the central government's stand on triple talaq complied with Constitutional provisions. "Our stand on triple talaq...is precisely in accordance with the principles of gender justice, equality and dignity enshrined in the Constitution of India," he said, according to PTI. Prasad added that the practice should be deliberated over taking into account that it is not regulated by any law in about a dozen Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sudan and Iran, among several others. The Centre had earlier said that the "validity of triple talaq and polygamy should be seen in light of gender justice".
In the past, the board had faced criticism from activists for saying that while it was the "least appreciated" means of divorce, triple talaq was permitted under the Shariat, or Muslim personal law. In an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, it had also said that the top court did not have the right to decide on the validity of the triple talaq practice, and that "personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of social reforms".
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!