Often carped for silently propping triple talaq to suit her politics of minority appeasement, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee maintained a studied silence even after the Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the gender-biased law —as unconstitutional and un-Islamic.
Though some Trinamool Congress intellectuals welcomed the verdict most party leaders kept mum betraying apparently nerves, as to how the Muslim women would respond to the developments, in the 2019 general elections.
Former Trinamool MP Krishna Bose welcomed the decision saying “the verdict will go a distance in establishing gender equality and help Muslim women develop in future” and wondering why such archaic laws were not changed “when Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia had done away with the practice.”
Trinamool intellectual Bibhas Chakrabarty said, “this is one of the most landmark decisions in the history of Indian judiciary. Sooner or later this judgment will start bearing effects on the Muslims society bringing about great social changes.”
Curiously most senior Trinamool politicians contacted refused comment and State Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury wondered why the Apex Court bench gave divergent views on the issue. “It is surprising as to why the Supreme Court gave out three decisions on the issue. Though he would not elaborate on the statement he said “tomorrow we will sit with senior advocates and take a call on the subject.”
A senior TMC leader and a Minister privately said “personal opinions do not count for much in such national issues. Everything will be said by the leadership.”
Another leader and an MP said on conditions of anonymity that the “party will have to reach out to the Muslim women to understand their view on the issue. But it seems that a large number of women in that society particularly those from the middle class and lower middle class will not appreciate politicians still championing the cause of Triple Talaq.”