Don’t tinker with Sharia, Mayawati cautions Modi

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to force his opinion on people of any particular religion.

The BSP, which has been eyeing Muslim votes in Uttar Pradesh, criticised Mr Modi over his stand on “triple talaq”, which deals with divorce under the Muslim personal law.

At rally in UP’s Mahoba district on Monday, the prime minister had said “triple talaq” should be abolished. Ms Mayawati, in a statement, accused the BJP and the Centre of tinkering with issues related to the Shariat. Shariat is an Islamic canonical law prescribing both religious and secular duties and sometimes penalties.

“The BJP government led by Narendra Modi has now started a new controversy over Muslim personal law, ‘triple talaq’ and common civil code before the assembly elections in some states to serve its political purpose. The BSP condemns the move,” she said.