Triple Talaq fight gets bizarre makeover in UP, now its a communal agenda, not for Muslim women’s dignity

On a matter that should have brought all parties together to form a consensus, most of the political parties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh seem to be interested in scoring some brownie points only. Even as the BJP is often accused of being a party that promotes communalism, the saffron party has dared to speak against a regressive social practice — Triple Talaq, that affects lives of scores of Muslim women in the country. The practice is as bad as Hindu’s Sati system which was abolished in the 19th Century. But for some reasons, mostly politics and the fear of the Muslim voters’ backlash, political parties have always avoided to speak up on the issue.

The issue, however, would prove crucial in the run-up to the polls, even as the BJP has been accused of doing communal politics by raking up the issue even during the election. For the record, the country has been debating Triple Talaq for quite some time and the BJP seems to be serious about taking steps to abolish the practice.

Two days ago, BJP leader Smriti Irani had challenged Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who is expected to campaign for her party’s candidates, to speak up on Triple Talaq row. Though response came from Dimple or Priyanka, on Tuesday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar hit back at Irani on the matter. He said BJP is trying to give the issue a communal angle for electoral gain in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

“As the UP elections are approaching and they have raised this issue deliberately to gain electoral gain. They always put forth religious angle so that to increase communal tensions as they believe it is the easiest and shortest way for electoral gain,” Anwar was quoted as saying by ANI.

Union law minister and BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad has also made it clear that the Central government is serious about abolishing the practice which allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by just saying ‘Talaq’ thrice.

Among other parties, Congress, SP and BSP have maintained silence on the matter as they are expecting Muslim votes. The parties can, however, still gain the sympathy of rational Muslim voters, especially Muslim women, if they speak up against the practice.

(With agency inputs)