New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) The Indian Union Muslim League on Wednesday alleged that the present move by the Union Government to introduce bill in the name of protecting Muslim women from divorce by pronouncing triple talaq, was an attempt to abolish the Muslim Personal Law and establish the Uniform Civil Code in the country.
The party with a strong presence in Southern states, maintained that it will discuss the issue with other secular parties and oppose the proposed bill, to prevent 'harassment of men'.
Talking to mediapersons after its national secretariat here, League's Lok Sabha members PK Kunhalikkutty and ET Muhammed Basheer said the government is trying to take away the right of divorce from Muslim men by enforcing cognisable offences in the name of banning triple talaq.
'The draft bill states 'talaq,' and not 'triple talaq,' in any form-spoken, in writing or by electronic communication will be illegal and void and provides a jail term up to three years for husband. It means that if Muslim men want to get divorce, they will be arrested and harassed,' said Mr Kunhalikkutty.
Mr Basheer also pointed out that there were more provisions, which were contradictory. The bill provides 'subsistence allowance' to the ex-wife and children and at the same time, it says the husband will be imprisoned.
'How will a man in prison provide maintenance to his ex-wife and children?,' he wondered.
The League leaders said that the proposed bill is violating the constitutional rights of freedom of religion and negates the 'civil matters' under the Muslim Personal Law, such as marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance.
The government has decided to present 'The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017' in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, to "protect the rights of married Muslim women and prohibit divorce by pronouncing talaq in one go by their husbands'.
Earlier, the Muslim Personal Law Board also demanded that the bill be withdrawn and lamented the fact that the government did not consult it on the matter.
UNI KNA RJ 1840