PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi Hail Triple Talaq Verdict as Empowerment

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declared instant Triple Talaq as unconstitutional.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

(Photo: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 22 August, welcomed the Supreme Court’s historic verdict declaring instant divorce, or Triple Talaq, unconstitutional.

Taking to Twitter, Modi described the judgement as a “powerful measure for women empowerment”.

Earlier, in his Independence Day speech, Modi lauded the drive against Triple Talaq and said the entire nation was supporting Muslim women who were fighting the practice.

Also Read: Case Files: The Making of the Landmark Judgement on Triple Talaq

Rahul Gandhi Congratulates Women Who Waged Battle Against Triple Talaq

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi lauded the judgment and praised the women who fought the battle that led to it.

Beginning of a New Era: Amit Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah called it a historic verdict that gave women the right to live with equality and dignity.

I welcome this historical decision... This judgement is not about anyone’s victory or defeat. This is the victory of basic Constitutional rights of Muslim women and their right to live with equality.

Amit Shah, BJP chief

Shah called the verdict the “beginning of a new era” and a step towards “new India”. “It is the beginning of new era for the Muslim women to live with self respect and equality. The BJP welcomes the rights given to Muslim women and sees it as a step forward towards a new India,” he said.

Also Read: Triple Talaq: What Do Indian Muslim Women Really Think?

Congress Hopes SC Judgment Will End Controversy

Lauding the SC ruling, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "We welcome this historic judgement because Islam rejects prejudice against and exploitation of Muslim women".

The decision has reinforced the rights of Muslim women, who were its victims for centuries. We hope after this decision all the parties will be satisfied and the controversy will end.

Also Read: Demand to End Triple Talaq a Result of Muslim Women’s Empowerment

Triple Talaq Verdict is Giant Step for Women: Maneka Gandhi

Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court ruling, saying it was “a giant step for women”. She told CNN-News18:

I am very happy. It is a small step for the court but it’s a giant step for women. It’s about time that women were given the right to equality.

“This order makes her as equal as she is entitled to be under the constitution. Every religion works to equality. This is a step forward,” said Gandhi

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Centre had coordinated with Muslim women on the issue so that their view could be placed before the apex court as the government's stand.

Terming the verdict a victory of “constitutional values,” Prasad said there was apprehension whether the government would buckle under pressure the way the Rajiv Gandhi-led dispensation did in 1980s. "But the Narendra Modi government did not do so”.

Also Read: To Ban Triple Talaq, We Must Stop Talking About UCC: Tahir Mahmood

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: “We should not adopt a rigid attitude, but choose a reformist approach towards social evil. The central government will talk to all the political parties on framing a law on this issue.” He asserted that the issue was not related to any religion, but to “social reform”.

Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley tweeted that the verdict "undoes the injustice" meted out to Muslim women who were victims of the practice.

IUML Calls For Immediate Debate on Triple Talaq

While the Communist Party of India-Marxist welcomed the apex court verdict, it said it would “properly respond” after studying the majority and minority judgements.

The Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala on Tuesday demanded that the central government should not show any undue haste in formulating an ordinance on triple talaq, after the Supreme Court struck it down as “unconstitutional” and “not part of Islam”.

“The Parliament should debate and discuss this issue... there is time of six months,” said PK Kunhalikutty, IUML leader and Malappuram Lok Sabha member.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi today said it would be a "herculean task" to implement the Supreme Court order on triple talaq due to "practical difficulties".

(With inputs from India Today and IANS)

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