Srinagar, Dec 31: PDP president and former J&K Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Monday accused the Government of India of creating “division” by introducing the triple talaq bill.
She said that if the law against triple talaq is passed, it will disturb the family structure and create more financial problems for the Muslim women.
“Lynching incidents are growing at an alarming rate. Triple talaq bill goes against the Muslims and has the potential to create division among them. Zia’s Pakistan won’t be allowed to create in Gandhi’s India,” Mehbooba said during a presser at her Gupkar residence here.
She accused right-wing BJP, her former ally, of creating division among Muslims, and not “upholding the legacy” of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“Jammu and Kashmir went with India despite being a Muslim majority state. But BJP is trying to create the divide on religious lines. What message is BJP sending out to 25 crore Muslim population of the country?” she asked.
Monday was the first instance of Mehbooba openly castigating the right-wing party since the PDP-BJP broke-up in June.
“By bringing the triple talaq bill, they (BJP) are entering our houses. This will disturb our family life. There would be more economic issues for women and men.
“I have gone through a broken marriage and I feel that a woman faces the biggest challenge economically after her marriage is broken,” she said.
Claiming that Muslims have a strong family structure, Mehbooba said that BJP did not evolve consensus on the bill, which in its present form, is an “onslaught on Muslims”.
“I believe the bill is not in the spirit of Gandhi’s India. BJP must refrain from such acts. It upholds the rulings of Supreme Court that goes in its favour, while disrespects the other. If BJP did not refrain, we warn them of serious repercussions,” she said.
Triple talaq is an instant divorce pronounced by a husband after repeating the word ‘talaq’ three times before his wife.
This tradition was earlier decreed as “arbitrary” by the Supreme Court of India, asking GoI to frame a law.
BJP government has recently passed triple talaq bill in lower house of the Parliament, which has proposed to imprison a husband for three years.
However, after the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, the opposition questioned the three year term imprisonment.
On Monday, Rajya Sabha witnessed a huge ruckus and eventual adjournment of the house till January 2.
Mehbooba too has joined the chorus against the bill and questioned its practical implications.
Interestingly, Mehbooba, when in power, would always defend her ally BJP for its acts.
During 2016, when Kashmir was simmering in protests, she, during a presser with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, went all out against protesting civilians and justified the use of force against them.
