Rejecting the Opposition’s charge that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was raking up the issue of triple talaq for political gains ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu on Monday asked leaders to stop politicising the matter which is currently sub-judice.
“Triple talaq is not electoral issue and should not be linked with elections and one particular religion. There is a stated stand of BJP from the beginning and the government will present its view, when the matter comes up before the Supreme Court,” the Urban Development minister was quoted as saying by ANI.
He said the matter should not be linked to elections in five states, including politically crucial UP.
Naidu noted that the issue triple talaq was a question of equal rights to all irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion.
“There should not be any discrimination, harassment and injustice to any section of the people and more particularly women. We just want that every woman should get equal right and respect. Be it Muslim, Hindu or Christian women we don’t want anyone to get exploited,” he said.
Last week, Union Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had asked Samajwadi Party, Congress and BSP to make their stand clear on the contentious issue of triple talaq.
The minister said that the Centre is committed to ending the "evil social practice" of triple talaq and may take a major step to ban the practice after the UP Assembly elections, results of which will be announced on March 11.
"The government respects faith but worship and social evil cannot coexist," Prasad said.
"I want Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati to clarify their stand on the issue of triple talaq. Our (BJP's) stand is very clear. The issue is not related to religion but involves respect and dignity of women," he added.
"The government may take a major step to ban triple talaq after the UP Assembly polls," he said.
Prasad said this issue is not related to religion but involves respect and dignity of women. The government respects faith but worship and social evil cannot coexist, he added.
"We are the only party which respects women. Neither do other parties offer a good place to women nor do they respect them," the BJP leader claimed.
