Ravi Shankar Prasad asks Mamata to clear her stand on Triple Talaq

Union Minister of Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to clarify her stand on the Triple Talaq system from which majority of women are suffering in her state.

"Mamata ji what is your stand on Triple Talaq? Want to ask what does she want to say about justice to women who are its victims? This is now a major issue of the country," Prasad asked.

Prasad said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government has clarified its stand on this issue by filling the affidavit, adding it is not a religious but a question of gender justice, equality and dignity.

"Number of countries has regulated Triple Talaq system. When Islamic country and Muslim dominating country can regulate this, why can't India. Mamata is the Chief Minister of West Bengal and she talks about women justice and as per data after Uttar Pradesh, Bengal is the most affected state of this social evil," he said.

Further accusing the Mamata-led Bengal Government, Prasad said that the people of the state are deprived of development and are experiencing discrimination.

"The Constitution of India has provided right to everyone, they have right to express themselves and even have the religious rights. But if we hear the one cannot take out Ramnavmi procession, action will be taken if somebody celebrates Hanuman jayanti, then this is not correct," he added.

The Allahabad High Court had in December 2016 held that the practice of triple talaq is 'cruel' and raised an issue that whether the Muslim Personal Law could be amended to provide relief to the Muslim women.

The High Court also stated that the form of 'instant divorce' is 'most demeaning'.

The Supreme Court is to hear multiple pleas challenging the validity of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy practices among Muslims community on May 11 by a Constitution bench during the summer vacation.

Earlier on March 27, the AIMPLB told the apex court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary.