Triple talaq is internal matter of Muslims: RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday held that triple talaq is an internal problem of the Muslim community, which it must ponder over as there cannot be any bias based on gender.

Speaking on the sidelines of a three-day All India Executive Council meeting of RSS at Annojiguda here, Suresh Joshi, RSS general secretary, noted that it was Muslim women who wanted justice and moved the court. “So we can say that any kind of gender based injustice is not good in this modern world. We wish that they get justice. The courts must also consider this issue humanely,” Bhaiyyaji Joshi, as he is known, said.

On the ongoing debate on Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he said the RSS has always held that the law must stop any kind of discrimination, taking enough care that it does not disturb the social fabric. “There can be issues of traditions but if they are disturbing society, then law must interfere and end it. The Law Commission has already sought opinion of the people on UCC,” he noted.

The RSS, while not discouraging Indian producers from employing Pakistani talent in movies, said that it was the artists in Pakistan who are saying that they are not ready to work in Indian films. “Then where is the need to bring them here. Don’t we have good artists here? This dependency must end,” Bhaiyyaji said, adding that RSS believes that art has no boundaries but these are rare conditions and evoke short-term reactions. He also said that Pakistan must deal with home-bred terror.

Distancing RSS from the ongoing family feud in Samajwadi Party and its impact on Uttar Pradesh elections, he said that RSS has no role to play. “Yes, Amit Shah was here for the conclave. As BJP president Amit might have thought about it, it is the work of BJP, not RSS. They (BJP) have to win the elections,” he said.

Refuting allegations that the issue of Ram mandir has been brought to the fore to gain electoral benefit, Bhaiyyaji said  the Hindu community wants Ram mandir to be built in Ayodhya but first all legal issues must be cleared.

Issue will polarise UP voters: Owaisi 

Predicting that the triple talaq issue would polarise voters in the Uttar Pradesh elections, All India Majlis E Ittahadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi has said the BJP should focus on development issues, reports DHNS from Hyderabad.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue, Owaisi –whose party is contesting the UP elections-- said the PM and his party are making concerted efforts to polarise voters by raking up triple talaq and the Ram mandir issues.