Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court judgement as “historic” and said it grants equality to Muslim women even as BJP President Amit Shah maintained that it would serve as a powerful measure for women empowerment and “a step towards New India.”
“Judgement of the Hon'ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
The Supreme Court by a majority verdict set aside the practice of divorce through triple talaq among Muslims, saying the practice was void, illegal and unconstitutional. Over twenty Islamic countries have long declared triple Talaaq as illegal.
BJP chief welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict as “historic” and said it marked the beginning of a new epoch of equality and self respect for Muslim women in the country.
Shah also thanked the PM and the BJP-led central government for presenting the viewpoint of the Muslim women, who contested the issue, “in a just manner” before the apex court.
Viewing it as a “resolute step towards New India”, he stressed that the Supreme Court's majority verdict was not a defeat or win for anyone. It was a “victory of rights to equality and fundamental Constitutional rights”, Shah told reporters.
“We welcome the verdict. The Supreme Court has given a historic decision. This verdict has given the right to crores of women to live with equality and dignity.”It is a beginning of a new epoch of self-respect and equality for Muslim women. The party (BJP) welcomes the rights and respect the women have received and sees it as a resolute step towards a New India,” he said.
The BJP chief observed that the law of triple talaq does not exist in many Muslim countries across the world.
Union Minister for law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad called the Supreme Court's judgement on triple talaq an indication of a “New India.” Prasad said that Prime Minister Modi's leadership and his firm decision to back his Muslim sisters made this possible.
“Prime Minister Modi firmly supported their cause inside the court and clearly stated that the issue is not of religion or faith, but is simply of gender justice, gender equality and gender dignity,” Prasad said.
He also said that today is the day to salute the nation's women.Ravi Shankar also said that the Prime Minister has made it clear that this government would not bow down, adding that this is the win of Indian Constitutional principles.”Today marks a new dawn in the country and let us celebrate that,” he said.
Finance and Defence minister Arun Jaitley said the verdict is the law of the land now and a great victory for those who believe that personal laws must be progressive.
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi also termed it as “a good judgement and saying “We welcome it. It is a step forward towards gender justice and gender equality. It is good for women.”
lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she was “happy because women faced lot of difficulty due to this. law should be same in bringing justice to women”.