'Triple Talaq' law unconstitutional, demonizes Muslims: Asaduddin Owaisi
Aug 01, 2021
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 1 : Lashing out at the PM Narendra Modi-led central government over the law that criminalises 'triple talaq', AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said the legislation was "against equality" and "demonizes Muslims."
"This law against triple talaq is unconstitutional and has been challenged in Supreme Court. It is against equality and demonizes Muslims. Would the Modi government only celebrate Muslim Women Rights Day? What about the empowerment of Hindu, Dalit and OBC women?" said Owaisi.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief also said that the law will lead to more exploitation of Muslim women and will add up to their problems. "Only cases will be registered and no justice will be delivered. Muslims have not accepted it on the ground," Owaisi added.
Owaisi's remarks come after Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said that the cases of instant triple talaq has been dropped by 80 per cent since the Muslim Women (Protection Of Rights On Marriage) Act was enacted.
Speaking at an event in the national capital to commemorate two years of triple talaq, Naqvi said, "The cases of instant triple talaq has been dropped by 80 per cent since the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act was enacted on August 1, 2019. In Uttar Pradesh, before the law was enacted there were 0ver 63,000 cases were registered but after the enactment of the law, the cases dropped to 221 cases. Bihar registered 49 cases after enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act."
The Ministry of Minority Affairs had previously said that August 1 will be observed as "Muslim Women Rights Day" across the country to celebrate the second anniversary of the enactment of the law against triple talaq.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage), Act, 2019, criminalises instant 'triple talaq' among Muslims and attracts a jail term of three years for the husband. The Act was the first bill introduced in Parliament after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was re-elected to power in 2019.
The AIMIM chief further hit out at the Centre over the Pegasus spyware issue.
"Why is the governmnet afraid of debating on 'Pegasus' in Parliament? What do you want to hide? We are willing to run the Parliament but you (government) do not want that. You only want to pass Bills. Is that Democracy? We are not getting a chance to put forth our views," added Owaisi.