Save women, axe triple talaq: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on the hugely contentious issue of triple talaq on Monday and said he wanted the practice to go to save the lives of Muslim women from being ruined. The PM also denounced the practice of female foeticide prevalent in Hindu society.

Triple talaq pertains to women’s dignity and should not be treated as a religious issue, the PM told a rally in poll-bound UP’s Mahoba, part of the backward region of Bundelkhand. He deprecated attempts to politicise triple talaq.

The PM comments come weeks after India’s law commission circulated a questionnaire asking for public feedback on practices such as triple talaq and a uniform civil code, prompting Muslim bodies to accuse the Centre of trying to stoke an “internal war” in the country.

“What is the crime of my Muslim sisters when someone says talaq thrice over the phone and her life is destroyed ” he asked. In Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections will take place early next year, Muslims form more than 20% of the electorate. Mr Modi urged the media not to turn during debates triple talaq into a Hindu versus Muslim issue or a fight between the BJP and other parties. The Centre has already informed the Supreme Court that there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion, he said.

The PM said he was surprised to see some political parties in their lust for votes committing injustice to women in the 21st century. “Politics and elections have their own place but getting Muslim women their rights as per India’s Constitution is the responsibility of the government and the people of the country,” he said.

He said there should be discussions in a democracy. “The debate should be among knowledgeable persons from the Muslim community well-versed with the ‘Quran’. In the Muslim community, knowledgeable and progressive people are there. There are educated Muslim women who can put their views forward,” he said.

He said those who want to digress from triple talaq are instigating people but the government cannot allow the lives of Muslim women to be ruined.

The PM said female foeticide is a sin. “So what if the sinner is a Hindu. He will have to go to jail. My government has taken a number of steps to stop this practice because daughters should be protected,” he said.

The PM said he would turn Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh if the BJP was allowed to run the state for ten years.