Triple talaq ordinance is against women, says Asaduddin Owaisi
Alleging that the NDA government's ordinance on triple talaq was "against women" and "fundamental rights" of the Constitution, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded its withdrawal. "Supreme Court in its decision hasn't said anywhere that triple talaq is unconstitutional. SC said we set aside this," he said addressing a meeting in Hyderabad yesterday to protest against the ordinance that makes triple talaq illegal.
Resolution demanded the roll back of triple talaq ordinance
A resolution passed at the meeting, under the aegis of United Muslim Forum, demanded that the government take back the triple talaq ordinance. "The United Muslim Forum also demands the government to ensure that the religious and cultural rights and freedom guaranteed to Muslims by the Constitution are implemented in letter and spirit and not tampered in any manner," it said.
Ordinance discriminatory towards Muslim men, says Owaisi
"This ordinance is against Muslim women. Instead of doing justice to Muslim women, this ordinance will do injustice," Owaisi said. Citing Right to Equality, he alleged that ordinance was "discriminatory towards Muslim men" as they get three years as punishment if proven guilty and a non-Muslim gets only one-year sentence (under a different law). "Why this discrimination Mr. Modi, you tell us?" he asked.
'If BJP has affection for Muslim women, allocate Rs. 500cr'
The ordinance is against Muslim women as the burden of proof is on women that her ex-husband said 'talaq' thrice. "If BJP government has so much affection, allocate Rs. 500cr. No allocation of even a paisa...," Owaisi said. There are 24 lakh women, including 22 lakh non-Muslims, who are not with their husbands and justice should be done to them also, the 49-year-old said.
How is triple talaq a crime, asks Owaisi
Referring to Supreme Court judgments on Sections 497 and 377 of IPC, the three-time member of Parliament, Owaisi sought to know how the government could hand out punishment for triple talaq. "When 377 (criminalizing adult gay sex) is dismissed, 497 (adultery) is dismissed, how can you give us punishment in triple talaq? When they are decriminalized, how can this be criminal?" he asked.
Supreme Court struck down the anti-adultery law
A five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had on September 27 declared that adultery is not a crime and scrapped the 150-year-old law, saying it was unconstitutional as it dented the individuality of women and treated them as "chattel of husbands".
