Govt. raising triple talaq issue to woo Muslim women voters: AIMWPLB

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Feb. 6 (ANI): The All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) on Monday dubbed the Central Government's stand to ban triple talaq as a 'vote bank politics', saying the issue is brought to notice to woo the Muslim women voters ahead of the assembly elections. AIMWPLB president Shaista Amber however appealed to all the political leaders not to bring the triple talaq matter in their election manifesto. "It is true that Muslim women are really worried about triple talaq. But regarding talaq, I would like to appeal all the political leaders not to bring this matter in their election manifesto. We will not give vote to any political parties who raise this issue to gain vote from Muslim voters. They should not make it as a 'vote bank politics'," Amber told ANI. Vowing to ban triple talaq after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad yesterday said that triple talaq is a major issue in the state, adding that it is a practice that is still harassing women even after 70 years of freedom. He said the tradition of triple talaq denies respect for women and the central government is committed to end the "evil social practice". The Central Government has also told the top court that it is against gender injustice and for equality between men and women under the Constitution. However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has defended the practice, saying it is better to divorce a woman than kill her. "The rights bestowed by religion can't be questioned in a court of law," it said. In December last year, the Allahabad High Court termed the Islamic practice of divorcing a woman by uttering the word "talaq" thrice as "unconstitutional". The court further observed that the triple talaq practice sanctioned under Muslim Personal Law that governs marriage, property and divorce violates the rights of Muslim women. "Triple talaq is unconstitutional, it violates the rights of Muslim women," ruled the High Court, adding that no personal law board is above the Constitution. (ANI)