Activists spearheading the movement against instant triple talaq have lashed out at the Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for failing Muslim women by blocking the tabling of the Bill on the last day of monsoon session of Parliament.
However, the amendments made to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, by the Union Cabinet earlier this week, were uniformly welcomed, which the activists say are in sync with their demands.
“Earlier, the Bill was hastily prepared and not thought through but the government has taken appropriate steps and brought amendments, which is a good move. But, it seems the opposition is not in a mood to collaborate. Most political parties are used to doing politics the old way, where women’s issues don’t matter. So they continue to hear the voices of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), like some of the MPs in Congress party,” said Zakia Soman, co-founder, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA).
The NGO was among the interveners in the Shayara Bano case, where the Supreme Court gave a 3-2 verdict setting aside the practice of triple talaq.
Ms. Soman added that these MPs don’t have their ears to the ground and failed to recognise the “pulse of the nation” which has supported Muslim women’s movement against the practice of instant triple talaq.
“Unfortunately, this is happening during the build up to 2019 general elections where political opposition to the government will increase and issues of women’s rights will be sidelined,” the BMMA co-founder said.
The NGO had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, leaders of Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress, among others, appealing for certain changes to be made the original Bill and ensuring its passage thereafter.
On Thursday, the Union Cabinet brought in three amendments which included allowing the magistrate to grant bail before trial, filing of an FIR only at the insistence of the wife or her blood relatives or her relatives by marriage and making the offence compoundable, where if both parties agree, they can withdraw the case.
Former Union Minister Arif Mohammad Khan echoed BMMA’s sentiments. Without naming any party he said, “There are some parties who can’t shake off the influence of AIMPLB and think they will be able to garner Muslim votes only through them.”
Mr. Khan is a former Congress Minister who quit the party in 1986 over differences with its handling of the Shah Bano case.
Shaista Amber, President of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board too gave credit to the government for its efforts to bring amendments to the original Bill but at the same time blamed it for failing to ensure its passage during the monsoon session.
“I feel there should be no political slugfest over the issue of women’s rights. But, I will also blame the BJP for not ensuring its passage in Parliament. When important Bills had to be passed, the BJP ensured that opposition parties were brought onboard. But by not developing consensus over the issue of triple talaq, BJP too is paying politics because it doesn’t want to share credit for its passage with other parties,” Ms Amber said.
