Shiv Sena backs triple talaq ban, slams BJP

Mumbai: Backing the legislation that bans triple talaq, the Shiv Sena on Friday said that it would permanently free Muslim women from the shackles of instant triple talaq.

The demand comes at a time when the Centre is still mulling over introduction of the legislation in the Winter Session of Parliament. Many people are still practicing triple talaq, despite the Supreme Court striking it down.

“It would be a good step if the Union government introduces a bill on triple talaq. It will free Muslim women. The tradition should be banned completely and it should be considered as a crime,” said an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Friday.

A ministerial committee has been set up to propose a suitable legislation or amend the existing penal provi-sions.“Earlier, the voice of Shah Bano was suppressed but the Shayara Bano case is the dawn of Muslim women’s freedom,” the editorial said.

The party took potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by raising several issues — the promise of constructing Ram temple at Ayodhya, implementation of uniform civil code and repealing Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

“The way the Union government is following directives of the Supreme Court on triple talaq, it should do the same with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Supreme Court had given directives to the Centre thrice over the UCC but the government has still not taken any step toward it,” the party claimed.