Will come to power and scrap triple talaq bill, says Congress; BJP calls it 'appeasement politics'
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IBNS): Drawing sharp criticism from the ruling BJP for its alleged "appeasement politics" ahead of the General Elections, Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev said her party will come to power and scrap the triple talaq bill, which aims to end the practice of instant divorce to wives in Muslim community orally, media reports said.
Speaking at the AICC minorities convention, Dev recently said as quoted by The Indian Express, "I promise that the Congress party will come to power in 2019 and will scrap the Triple Talaq law. The law is just another weapon of the Modi government to arrest and harass Muslim men and put them in prison."
BJP counters Dev:
Reacting to Dev's comment, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of playing "appeasement politics".
"Rahul Gandhi says that if Congress comes to power, it will scrap triple talaq law. It is nothing but appeasement politics," Patra has been quoted by The Indian Express.
Why the bill is stuck?
According to clause 3 of the bill, "Any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal."
Most of the opposition parties, including the Congress, are against the bill.
Though the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, it failed to be passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, which was the last day of the parliament before the General Elections, due to be held by May.
As the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, the bill has lapsed and once again will have to be introduced in the parliament by the newly-elected government after the polls get over.
'Congress is Muslim Party' controversy:
In mid-2018, Urdu newspaper 'Inqalab' had quoted Congress president Rahul Gandhi as saying that the Congress was a “Muslim party”.
Rahul was reported to have made the Muslim remark during a meeting with Muslim intellectuals on July 11.
Prominent editor Shahid Siddiqui had tweeted: "Urdu daily Inqalab has quoted Rahul Gandhi saying 'Yes Congress is a Muslim party'. Is the quote correct or party will contradict it? Muslims don’t want a Muslim party, they want a National Secular party, which doesn’t discriminate between citizens. @RahulGandhi @INCIndia."
Urdu daily Inqalab has quoted Rahul Gandhi saying “Yes Congress is a Muslim party”. Is the quote correct or party will contradict it?
— shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) July 12, 2018
Muslims don’t want a Muslim party, they want a National Secular party, which doesn’t discriminate between citizens. @RahulGandhi @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/ZBwJ8qGcou
Later, Rahul had come up with an explanation on Twitter saying, "I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalised and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or beliefs matter little to me. I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear. I love all living beings. I am the Congress."
I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalised and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or beliefs matter little to me.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 17, 2018
I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear.
I love all living beings.
I am the Congress.
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