Triple talaq row: BJP should join Shariat, says SP

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Apr 30 (ANI): Lashing out at Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) opinion on abolishing the triple talaq norm among the Muslims, the Samajwadi Party asserted that the former should consider joining the Shariat, since it has been 'influential' to them. Speaking to ANI here on Sunday, SP leader Azam Khan said that rather than focusing on this matter, the BJP should consider addressing other issues. "The BJP leaders are expressing their hidden desires. If Shariat is influencing them so much, they should consider joining it," he said, adding the BJP was the only party that was politicising the matter. Drawing attention to the recent survey on divorce rates in the Muslims conducted under the Right to Information (RTI) in six states, Khan claimed that results showed divorce rates in the community to be almost negligible. "Divorce rates in other religious communities are much more than among Muslims. We don't want to embarrass the BJP by disclosing these figures. They must first look to rectify these before indulging in Shariat and the Quran," he added. Earlier today, Naidu while re-iterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to not politicise the issue of triple talaq asserted that the controversial practice had no sanction in Shariat. "Triple talaq is a matter of right of equality and right of women to live with dignity. It should not be politicised. I appeal to all political parties to take a resolve to put an end to negative politics," he said, while addressing a press conference in Hyderabad. On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi appealed to the Muslim community to find for proper solution to end the practice of triple talaq. Addressing the Basva festival, he told the media, "I believe people from Muslim community would come up to solve the issue of triple talaq and act as savior to the Muslim women in this crucial period." He further went on to say that there should be no discrimination in the country, adding that 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' was the motto of his government and it would fulfill the promises made to the people without any discrimination. (ANI)