Strongly protesting against the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill – popularly known as the Triple Talaq Bill, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on 15 February directly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the proposed law if passed in its present form would prove the final nail in his government.
“A surprising trend has emerged in today’s India. A Muslim man will be sent to jail if he divorces his wife. But, you become prime minister if you abandon wife,” Mohammed Umrain Mahfooz Rahmani, Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), was cited as saying by Ummid.com.
Rahmani said this, the web portal added, while addressing the ‘Silent March of Muslim women’ in Malegaon. Over 100,000 Muslim women of the city participated in the march called to protest the proposed triple talaq bill.
The women marchers were silent as they walked the 3-km stretch despite scorching heat. However, they burst into a loud but unexpected applause as Rahmani targeted Prime Minister Modi, indirectly referring to his wife Jashodaben, who has been left alone since marriage.
“There are about 23 lakh women who have been abandoned by their husbands. If any section of women is in the need of urgent attention of your government, it is this poor lot,” he added.
Rahmani also said that the proposed law in its present form is not only against the Muslim community but also against many existing laws.
“You are mischievously trying to convert a civil issue into a criminal act. This is an issue, if at all serious, of the Muslim community. Let the community resolve it,” he said.
The Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill – famous as the Triple Talaq Bill, has been passed in the Lok Sabha – the lower house of the India Parliament. The bill however is stalled in the Rajya Sabha where opposition members are in a majority and they are also opposing the bill in its present form.
Interestingly, the bill, which criminalises instant triple talaq with a 3-year jail term, is also being opposed by the BJP allies like TDP, BJD and AIADMK among others, and also by the women activists who were at the forefront in demanding a law to curb the practice of triple talaq.
The Modi government however is adamant on passing the bill without any amendment. Speculations are rife that the government is even ready to call a joint session of Parliament to make the proposed bill a law.
“By showcasing few 100 women the Modi government is misleading the country and the world. The lakhs of women here are saying in one voice that they are happy and totally satisfied with the Islamic Shari’ah and any change by the government will not be acceptable to them”, Rahmani said.
The Muslim Personal Law Board’s silent march was supported by all religious groups including the Jamiate Ulema, All India Sunni Jamiate Ulema, Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat, Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat and others.
Leaders of all political parties including local MLA Shaikh Asif, Mayor Shaikh Rasheed, former MLA Mufti Muhammad Ismail, Janata Dal (S) leader Buland Iqbal were all present to lend their support for the Muslim women’s march. Janata Dal (S) leader Shane Hind was present with a number her women volunteers.
In a show of communal harmony, those leading the marc were greeted by some Hindus when the march reached Mosam Pul. The protest rally came to an end at Malegaon Additional Collector Office.