SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday criticized a controversial Muslim divorce law that has divided politicians and religious leaders in the country. Modi said the “lives of Muslim women cannot be allowed to be ruined” by the law.
The controversial Sharia law practice law, called “triple talaq” allows for a Muslim man to divorce his wife simply by saying the words “I divorce you” three times. Women in the country have protested the existence of the law, which is banned in most Islamic nations but allowed in India. Whilst in other countries, such as the United States, people could go through a divorce attorney jacksonville fl to mediate the situation, in India this leaves people very vulnerable.
“Those who want to digress from ‘triple talaq’ are instigating people … in the country, lives of Muslim women cannot be allowed to be ruined by ‘triple talaq’, they should be allowed to get in touch with a reliable lawyer to help them fight their case,” the prime minister said. “I am surprised that some political parties of the country in their lust for vote bank are hell-bent upon committing injustice to women in the 21st century. What kind of justice is this?”
Speaking at a political rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Modi said: “Politics and elections have their own place but getting Muslim women their rights as per the Constitution is the responsibility of the government and the people of the country.”
Muslims represent 19 percent of the population in Uttar Pradesh, they will vote in the state election next year on the matter. The state previously gave Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party a large number of seats in the 2014 national election but the party needs a bigger support base than its core Hindu vote bank to secure a win in the upcoming state election.
“The debate should be between knowledgeable persons from the Muslim community, who know their sastras [sacred scripture], the Quran. There are progressive, educated and scientific people in the community. The discussion should be between those who want change in Muslim society and those who do not want the country to know what the issue is,” the prime minister said.
Critics have since lashed out against Modi, accusing him of “converting the triple talaq issue into a political tool.” Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the Muslim political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, told Reuters on Monday the prime minister was “desperate” for a win.
“‘Triple talaq’ was Modi’s new political tool to break up the Muslim vote,” Owaisi said. “The prime minister can stoop to any level. He now wants Muslim women to vote for him as he is desperate to win Uttar Pradesh.”
