New Delhi: Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments on ‘triple talaq’, SP leader Azam Khan today said he should also speak on other problems faced by Muslim women.
Addressing a function here, Modi had urged the Muslim community to ensure that the triple talaq issue was not “politicised”, and hoped that intellectuals from the community would come forward to fight the practice.
“Modi should speak about the other problems (besides triple talaq) of the Muslim women,” Khan said.
He said the prime minister should also show sympathy with those Muslim women who have lost their sons or husbands due to violence by cow vigilantes.
The Centre has opposed the triple talaq practice in the Supreme Court citing the principles of gender justice and secularism enshrined in the Constitution.
Activists allege that the practice under which a Muslim man can give instant divorce to his wife by uttering the word ‘talaq’ thrice in one go has left lakhs of women destitute.
Referring to Gujarat riots of 2002, Khan said Modi should also talk about the violence in Gujarat that destroyed the homes of many Muslim women.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi was speaking on such issues, targeting the Karnataka assembly elections which are slated for next year.
“The prime minister spoke all such things, eyeing the upcoming election in Karnataka,” he said.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said Modi should not speak on such issues which are pending in the court.
“First you bring improvement within yourself (community), then you talk of betterment of Muslims,” he said.
Another JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said there is a provision in Constitution that every religion has its own right to defend its customs and rituals.
“If you feel that there are some problems with a religion, let the voices come from that religion itself,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli, however, defended the prime minister, saying the Modi government is working for the dignity of every Indian.
“The comments have to be seen as a benchmark of women’s rights in terms of Constitutional right to equality,” he said.
—-PTI