Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says that triple talaq was neither Islamic nor legal. The cases have dropped by 82 per cent since the law against it came into force
The month of August is recognised as a month of revolution, rights and reforms in the Indian history: August 20 — Sadbhavana Diwas, August 19 — World Humanitarian Day, August 15 — Independence Day, August 8 — Quit India Movement, August 5 — abolition of Article 370 and August 1 — Muslim Women Rights Day.
August 1, 2019, is a historic day in Indian parliamentary history when the bill against triple talaq was made a law despite the obstacle by so-called ‘champions of secularism’, including the Congress, Communist Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Trinamool Congress.
It became the day which ensured gender equality and strengthened constitutional, fundamental and democratic rights of the Muslim women. Triple talaq or Talaq-a-Biddat was neither Islamic nor legal. Despite the fact, the social evil of triple talaq was given “political patronage” by “Merchants of Votes”.
The law against social evil of triple talaq could have been passed in 1986 when the Supreme Court had given historic judgement in the Shahbano case. The Congress had absolute majority in Parliament with more than 400 out of 545 Lok Sabha members and more than 159 out of 245 members in the Rajya Sabha. But the then Rajiv Gandhi-Government used its strength in the Parliament to make the Supreme Court judgement ineffective and deprived the Muslim women of their constitutional and fundamental rights.
The Congress’ “Mistake of the Moment” became “Punishment of the Decades” for the Muslim women. The Congress was worried for “Vote Ka Udhaar”, while our government was worried for “Samajik Sudhaar” (social reform).
India runs on a Constitution and not on any religious textbook. Earlier, various legislations had been brought in the country to abolish social evils such as sati pratha and child marriage. Triple talaq law has nothing to do with religion, the law has been made purely to ensure gender equality by ending a social evil, inhuman, cruel and unconstitutional practice. Instant divorce by verbally saying talaq thrice is illegal. There were several incidents coming where women had been given talaq through letter, phone or even through text messages. Such incidents are unacceptable to a sensitive country and to a government committed to inclusive development.
Several Muslim-majority nations of the world had declared triple talaq illegal and un-Islamic much earlier. Egypt was the first Muslim nation, which abolished this social evil in 1929.
Sudan in 1929, Pakistan in 1956, Bangladesh in 1972, Iraq in 1959, Syria in 1953, Malaysia in 1969 had abolished the practice of triple talaq. Besides, countries such as Cyprus, Jordan, Algeria, Iran, Brunei, Morocco, Qatar, UAE also ended this social evil many years ago. But it took 70 years for India to get rid of this inhuman and cruel practice.
The Supreme Court on May 18, 2017 had declared it unconstitutional. One year has passed since the law against it was passed and there is a decline of about 82 per cent in triple talaq cases thereafter. If any such case was reported, the law has taken action.
Modi’s Government is committed to empowerment of all sections and social reforms. Some political parties give illogical statements that why the Modi-Government is worried about talaq in Muslim women? Why the Government don’t do anything for their socio-economic-educational empowerment? I want to make it clear to those people who ask such questions that during the last six years, the Government has worked with inclusive empowerment for every sections including Muslim women.
Approximately, three crore 87 lakh minority students have been given various scholarships which include about 60 per cent of the girl child. A large number of Muslim women have been provided employment opportunities through Hunar Haat. More than 10 lakh minority youths have been provided employment through skill development schemes such as Seekho aur Kamao, Garib Nawaz Swarojgar Yojna, Usttad, Nai Manzil, Nai Roushni and more. A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Modi Government ensured Muslim women can perform Haj without Mehram (male companion) in 2018. This year too, more than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without Mehram. These women will be allowed to go to Haj 2021 on the basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides, women who file new application, will also be allowed to go next year.
Even the opposition cannot raise question that there has been any discrimination with any community in welfare schemes. Our efforts for inclusive empowerment have shown results on the ground. Our Government has provided electricity to a large number of villages of the country which were deprived of electricity for decades. These villages include large number of minority community dominated villages. We have provided benefit to 22 crore farmers under Kisan Samman Nidhi which include more than 33 per cent farmers belonging to minority communities. About 37 per cent of more than eight crore beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojna providing free gas connection belong to minority communities. We have also provided easy loans to about 24 crore people under Mudra Yojna for small and medium business and other employment oriented economic activities and more than 36 per cent beneficiaries are from minority communities. Muslim women have significantly been benefitted from these welfare schemes, they have become an equal partner of mainstream development.