BJP won election on development plank but doesn't know anything except divisive politics!

The BJP came to power on the development plank.

It had fought the Lok Sabha election, claiming that its slogan was, 'Sabka sath, Sabka vikas'.

It meant that the party had claimed voters' support for an inclusive growth and developmental model.

But, as soon as it came to power, it steadily got back to divisive politics.

You may claim otherwise but it seems that the BJP can't do without raising issues that divide society.

Senior journalist Dilip C Mandal, in a Facebook post, wrote:

Issues BJP govt likes, wants you to discuss--Pakistan, Triple Talaq, Uniform Civil Code, Cow, Muslims, Army, Communalism et al. On TV channels, 90% debates will be on these subjects.

Issues that irk BJP and it doesn't want focus on them include--Inflation, Illiteracy, Corruption, Unemployment, Farmers suicides, poor state of health education, casteism, crimes against Dalits ands other backward sections, etc. Channels won't talk about them.

In fact, he suggests that TV channels are also part of the game: one group takes 'secular' position, the other takes 'non-secular' position, which not just divide society but shift focus from the real issues.

It seems that BJP is yet to learn that it is not just a political party but that it wins elections in states and at the Centre, and it needs to govern, to administer, to run the country.

Call me a critic. Yes, I am not a BJP fan. But why is your focus not on development. You lose Delhi and you go after Arvind Kejriwal and his party, in such a cheap manner that doesn't behove a national party.

Every few months there would be a state election and the strategy to win poll is nothing but to 'divide' voter. Hence, development is left behind somewhere. Barely two more years you have.

You hope to polarise, divide and exploit patritotic feelings to win again in 2019. But, be realistic. Ask yourself, what have you done on developmental front. Where is inclusive development?

If only the focus was right, you could have won admirers from the opposite camp also. But it seems that you are yet to learn any other method--apart from communal divisions an controversial issues, to stay afloat in politics.

Pronouncing 'Triple Talaq' in one sitting to end marriage: Time for Indian Muslims to say goodbye to this practice?

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court recently gave a landmark judgment on 'triple talaq', the abhorrent practice of giving divorce to woman by either uttering the word 'talaq' thrice in one sitting or through any other form of communication--letter, phone, SMS or email.

Justice Hasnain Masoodi clearly said that as per the Holy Quran and Shariat, the Muslim male doesn't have absolute power to give 'talaq' unilaterally, in one sitting.

In fact, the husband has to give a reason for it. Besides, the woman has to be given an opportunity to present her side before the qazi.

It is not that a man simply utters the dreaded word thrice and it severs the relationship. Rather, there should be attempts for reconciliation [or arbitration]. If one attempt fails and after a period of one month, the man again insists on divorce, then there should be a hiatus of one month again.

Further, just like there are witnesses during 'nikaah', where woman has the upper hand, and it is her assent after which the marriage is solemnised, the correct procedure in ending the marriage is that there should be witnesses.

In the end, when everything fails, the divorce is final. This is the process in accordance with Shariat. However, due to lack of awareness and social acceptance, the 'triple talaq' is not only practiced, it is commonly believed that verbal 'triple talaq' in one go, is right.

Strangely, there have been cases where a man, who was drunk, uttered the words and later regretted it. But the qazi gave fatwa that the relationship was over. Even though, it was in one sitting, and while drinking is prohibited in Islam, his action [in inebriated state] was considered as legal.

Clearly, there is need for reform. The voices should come from within the community. Unfortunately, there has been no such strong movement. The clergy [Ulema] are not too sympathetic towards the plight of women and kids who suffer because of this malpractice.

The learned judge cited that 'Talaq-e-Ahsan' is the only form of talaq that finds mention in Quran. The reason for duration of one month between separate sittings for pronouncing talaq is because often people utter the word without realising consequences, and later realise their mistake.

It is possible that after a period when anger subsides, the couple decides to remain united. Sadly, as soon as the verdict was known, some Ulema didn't react positively. The judge has quoted exhaustively from the religious texts and hasn't left any point untouched.

It's time that like other Muslim countries where the 'triple talaq' is not accepted, Indian Muslims also shun this  tradition. Talaq is considered one of the most despised acts in Islam and there is a provision for it, in extreme situations. However, this form of talaq has become a joke. Innumerable women suffer as a result.

Organisations working for women's rights are quite buoyed by the ruling. One hopes that the verdict in the case of Bilquis Akhtar, would help in clearing the misconceptions regarding the 'Triple talaq' as well as educating Muslim society in this regard.

Read post on this blog over the issue of Talaq in the past:

The practice of triple talaq: Is Talaq=Mazaq?

The practice of Triple Talaq among Indian Muslims: Is Talaaq = Mazaaq?

Initially titled 'Talaq', but later released as Nikaah*

In Islam, marriage is a contract as per which a man has the right to divorce his wife in extreme situations.

Also, a woman can seek Khula'a and get out of the wedlock. But the abuse of the religious sanction of talaaq is aquiring bizarre proportions lately.

A man gave talaaq to his wife on cell phone, another just sent an SMS message with talaq written thrice in it and the third person uttered the word thrice either in a drunken state or in his sleep.

All these incidents were reported recently. In the last incident, it was the wife who sought the advice of neighbouring women for opinion and from there the news spread.

Despite the fact that even pronouncing talaaq thrice in one sitting should be counted as just one, the local residents insist the marriage is 'haraam' and the poor family is suffering and husband, wife living separately. Their kids are the worst sufferers.

When I was a teenager, I felt that the practice of talaaq is too much vilified by other communities. After all, it was also a facility. You had the option to get out of a bad marriage, if there is abuse or other issues. There was no bondage for entire life [or even afterlife].

But now I feel anguished at such abuse of a religious practice. So what should be done? The Ulema are silent at this blatant misuse of a 'right' or say option to separate. Should we expect something from umbrella organisations like AIMPLB that have 201 members belonging to all Muslim sects.

But they are silent. The demand for a law to stop the misuse should come from within the Muslims else it will be deemed a 'madakhlat' or intervention in Muslim affairs. Shouldn't Muslim society see the need and do something to ensure that the sacrosanct contract of marriage does not get so abused. 

It is a fact that the fear of triple talaaq hangs on the head of women like a sword. At least, it should be decided that triple talaq is one sitting be held as single pronouncement and the next pronouncements should come after the proper duration. [Though this is the way in several Muslim countries as per Shariat].

But we have not yet managed to get a consensus on this. More than media criticism or the sullying image of Muslims, one should genuinely feel concerned. And a system to adhere to the proper adehrence of the process to give talaaq is needed for the Muslim society as a whole.

Politicians aren't supposed to do that. Muslim intellectuals and leaders who are progressive are few and lose touch with the poor masses. We have given up on Ulema, some of whom are just happy getting Rajya Sabha seats like the Madani family that heads the influential Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind. Blogging and giving vent to our frustration wouldn't help.

I know a girl, who was married to a youth living in USA. The NRI came and married and returned alone with the promise of taking her later. However, he never took her. The girl's parents made umpteen pleas and sent messages but he stopped responing or taking calls.

He sent a written note of divorce one day as he had later married in US and had earlier come to India and married under his parental pressure. Now what is that? Such criminal carelessness with which talaaq is given must have shaken us but we don't seem perturbed, why?

Time for the Muslim society to stand up. Evolve a consensus and do something to stop this malpractice. Devise an internal mechanism and then approach government to get the needed changes in the Muslim Personal Law passed.

The Muslim society must decide whether they have to take the marriage seriously or at least in the name or observign religious tenets strictly. Redeem the institution of marriage. Otherwise it will be nothing but Mazaaq [Joke].

Read another post 'Triple Talaq And Deoband Turns into a Fatwa Factory' that was written much later on this blog.

[*The Salma Agha-starrer Nikaah was a Bollywood movie that had created awareness about the prevalence of the malpractice of triple talaq in Indian Muslim society. The BR Chopra movie had Raj Bbbar play the lead role.]