Reformers should protect women from "ill-effects" of triple talaq, PM Narendra Modi said
Highlights
- PM Modi asked people from the community to protect Muslim daughters
- This is PM Modi's second intervention in the debate on triple talaq
- He spoke on the issue at the BJP's national executive in Bhubaneswar
Making a pitch for justice for Muslim women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called upon reformers from the Muslim community to "come forward to protect daughters from the ill-effects" of triple talaq and urged them "to not allow the issue to get politicised".
This is PM Modi's second intervention in the debate on triple talaq - a practice where Muslim men divorce their wives by saying talaq thrice - in a fortnight. He spoke on the issue at the BJP's national executive in Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar a few days back, where he stressed that "injustice should not be done to Muslim women".
The Prime Minister today asked people from the community to find a way to protect Muslim daughters and lead the way for people around the world. "There is so much debate on the triple talaq these days. Looking at the great tradition of India, my mind is filled with the hope that powerful people will emerge from the community in this country (to) eradicate outdated practices, evolve modern systems," he said in his 40-minute speech at a function to mark birth anniversary of Kannada philosopher Basaveshwar.
Earlier this week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
had questioned the silence of some people on triple talaq. He didn't name anyone, but the attack was on rival political parties that have not explicitly criticised the exploitative practice.
A decision on the legality of triple talaq is round the corner.
Beginning May 11, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court will sit through the summer vacation to decide if triple talaq and polygamy which violates women's rights can be upheld under the right to religion. The top court took up the case after several Muslim women moved court complaining that they had been divorced on Facebook and WhatsApp.
For the BJP, the debate around triple talaq has been part of the push for a controversial Uniform Civil Code that has religiously figured in its election manifestos. Last year, the ruling NDA government had asked the Law Commission to hold consultations on the uniform code.