Speaking at the AICC minorities convention in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sushmita Dev said the focus of the Triple Talaq Bill was not to empower Muslim women but to penalise Muslim men.
n a significant announcement, Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev on Thursday said that the party would abolish the Triple Talaq law if it was voted to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at the AICC minorities convention in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Dev said the focus of the Triple Talaq Bill was not to empower Muslim women but to penalise Muslim men.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the Winter Session of Parliament last year but has faced roadblocks in the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition has demanded that the bill be sent to a select committee.
In January, the government re-promulgated the ordinance banning the practice of instant triple talaq, which attracts a jail term of three years for the husband. While the ordinance makes it a “non-bailable” offence, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail.
Reacting to her remark, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra termed it as Congress’ “appeasement politics”. “Rahul Gandhi says that if Congress comes to power, it will scrap triple talaq law. It is nothing but appeasement politics,” he said.
Referring to the Citizenship Bill, which has lead to unrest in the North-east, Dev said the legislation was unconstitutional and the Congress would oppose it tooth and nai
“The Citizenship Bill is creating unrest in Assam. The Congress is fighting against it. The bill is unconstitutional. We won’t let the government bring any law that is against the Constitution,” the MP from Assam’s Silchar said.
The Citizenship Bill, passed by Lok Sabha on January 8 amid a walkout by the Congress, seeks to remove hurdles for migrants belonging to minority groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan in getting Indian citizenship.
Sourder IE
Readers like you, make ESHADOOT work possible. We need your support to deliver quality and positive news about India and Indian diaspora - and to keep it open for everyone. Your support is essential to continue our efforts. Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for our future.
Anyone with common sense except the proponents in Congress would be able to see through their vote bank politics. The harrssment is really is by Muslim men towards their own women. This is the kind of Wahabism creeping in to democratic rules not only in India but other western nations in Europe. Scores of reports are available to support this, e.g. the MCB prepared their own aganeda during the last UK elections and insisted to their political allies Labour Party to include bringing of Sharia Law into their manifesto! Planning laws have been flaunted up and down the country where small shopping parades with hardly any business are taken over by Muslim businesses, estate agents changing demographics to increase a voter base for supporting Labour Party, madrasas masquareding as tution centrescto further and empower their faith and so on. BJP are right in commenting that Congress are, being left with no support from majority Indians, have to appease the so called minorities. Muslims are not minority in India anymore and I hope the next Modi government not only strengthens the Citizenship laws but ensures no illegals and those who act against the interest of India are kept out. The Triple Talaq bill was passed thanks to tremendous support by Muslim women who are for centuries subjugated by their husbands, brothers and fathers. Just look at what’s happening in Saudi Arabia- a lone woman can’t travel without accompanied by a male member of the family! Far from Cogress coming to power I sincerely hope they are anahilated.
I thought AICCongress is projected as a progressive ‘secular’ political Party and promotes women empowerment.. but maybe it isnt. Triple Talaq is such an abomination, and a sure way to keep women where a patriachial society wants to keep women.. weak and dependent baby makers.