The Supreme Court judgment, on Tuesday, striking down triple talaq as unconstitutional has been welcomed by the ruling BJP as well as the principal opposition party, the Congress. The political undertones which elicited the reaction of the two parties were unmistakable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Supreme Court's judgment, saying it granted equality to Muslim women and was a powerful measure for women's empowerment. His party, the BJP, gave credit to the Modi government for the verdict by noting that it had presented the women's point of view before the court.
BJP chief Amit Shah welcomed the decision of the apex court, calling it a victory for Muslim women.
“Many countries across the world do not have triple talaq. By terming triple talaq unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has given equal rights and self-respect to crores of women,” Shah said. He said the verdict marked the beginning of a new era of equality and self-respect for Muslim women.
He went on to give credit to the Modi government, saying, "I thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi and the BJP government for presenting the women's point of view before the court".
The BJP, as well as ministers in the Modi government, have been quite vocal in their criticism of triple talaq, raking up the issue in a big way in the Uttar Pradesh polls. This was done much to the consternation of the rival parties, who accused it of politicising the issue for electoral gains.
The Congress, which has so far been cautious on the issue, with many of its leaders taking the line that it concerned a community's personal law, welcomed the judgment. They said the practice of instant triple talaq was an aberration and an adulteration of talaq.
"The verdict is an affirmation of the rights of Muslim women and provides relief against being subjected to discrimination by a practice that had been perverted over the years. We weclome the acceptance of this reality by the court and we welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court," said Randeep Surjewala, AICC media department in-charge.
Asked why his party had not been forthright on the issue earlier, Surjewala said the Congress had always said that it awaited the decision of the Supreme Court and everyone should accept it, and had earlier too made clear its rejection of instant triple talaq.
To the question on whether the Congress would support any legislation brought by the government on the issue, he said there was in fact no need for a law after the court's judgment. “The matter is decided. There is no need or occasion to bring in any further laws,” he said.
Surjewala criticised the BJP for engaging vote bank politics on the issue. “Why did they not bring a law? Why were they waiting for the Supreme Court's decision? They should stop this double speak. They had the majority,” he said.
