Mamata lashes out at BJP on triple talaq, citizen register

Breaking her studied silence on the Triple Talaq Bill brought by the Central Government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the Bill as defective and said more consultation is needed with all the stakeholders on the issue.

Addressing a gathering at Ahmedpur in Birbhum district, Mamata said, “We never strongly oppose the Triple Talaq Bill, because we are in favour of women. But, the BJP has brought a defective Bill in the Parliament. In this defective Bill, women will be exposed to more dangers and harassment than being protected. BJP is playing politics with the Triple Talaq Bill.”

Demanding that the Bill be sent to a parliamentary select committee, Mamata said more and broader consultation is needed with all stakeholders on the issue and to ensure that the intended results of protecting Muslim women are properly addressed.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, criminalises instant divorce, which is triple talaq, was passed in the Lok Sabha last week and was tabled in the Rajya Sabha today.

Mamata Banerjee also lashed out against the BJP on the issue of the first draft of the consolidated list for National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam and accused the saffron party of playing divisive politics.

“What is going on in Assam in the name of NRC is selective ostracisation of Bengalis from that state. A conspiracy is going on to oust those who have been staying in that state for over 40 years. We have come to know that using the NRC as a ploy, around 1.25 crore are being threatened with eviction from Assam. We want to remind BJP not to play with fire and practice divisive politics. They should maintain peace. People will not accept such arbitrary moves and Trinamool Congress will not leave any stone unturned in protesting any eviction in the name of NRC,” Mamata said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has accused the Trinamool Congress and its leaders, including party supremo Mamata Banerjee of practicing soft Hindutva.

“TMC is practising soft Hindutva in Bengal to prevent consolidation of Hindu votes in favour of BJP. The so-called secular leaders are trying this formula now as they have become aware that the Hindus are uniting under BJP’s flag. They have realised that Muslim appeasement will no longer pay dividends in elections,” Ghosh said here.