MAHOBA, (UP) October 24 : Joining the debate on triple talaq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today opposed the practice among Muslims and in the same breath he condemned the prevalence of female foeticide in Hindu society.
“Female foeticide is a sin. So what if the sinner is a Hindu. My government has taken a number of steps (to stop this practice). Daughters, mothers, sisters should be protected. One should not consider religion. Mothers and sisters should be respected. We have raised the issue firmly.”
“Now the issue of talaq has come up. Just like if any Hindu commits female foeticide he will have to go to jail, similarly what is the crime of my Muslim sisters that someone says talaq over phone and her life is destroyed,” the Prime Minister said addressing a “Maha Parivartan Rally” at Mahoba in the Bundelkhand region in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Urging TV news channels to not turn triple talaq into an issue of Hindu versus Muslim or BJP versus other parties, PM Modi said that in its submission to the Supreme Court, the central government had clearly stated that there should not be any atrocity on women and there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion.
“In democracy, there should be discussion. The government has put forward its position. Those who want to digress from triple talaq are instigating people...in the country, lives of Muslim women cannot be allowed to be ruined by triple talaq,” he said.
In his speech, the PM asked the audience If the rights of Muslim women be protected or not and whether they should get equal rights or not?
“I am surprised that some political parties of the country in their lust for vote bank are hell-bent upon committing injustice to women in the 21st century. What kind of justice is this?”
“Politics and elections have their own place but getting Muslim women their rights as per the Constitution is the responsibility of the government and the people of the country,” he said.
‘Get out of SP-BSP stranglehold in Uttar Pradesh’
Amid the escalating crisis in the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said given a chance, the BJP will change the face of the state and usher in its development and prosperity.
Addressing an impressive gathering in Mahoba district of Bundelkhand, Modi said while the ruling party and others were fighting over power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was worried about the state.
He said that lack of governance has aggravated things in the drought-hit Bundelkhand. “We have sent large amounts of funds for this region but, sadly, work has not been done,” Modi said.
He cited the work done in Gujarat as its chief minister and pointed out that after 15 years of hard work, the drought-hit areas were now plush with water.
The Prime Minister also batted for river linking and reminded the gathering that long back, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had envisaged this and his government was taking it forward now.
Alleging “behind the doors friendship” between the ruling Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party, Modi called upon the people to break out of the “SP-BSP stranglehold”. He urged the people to vote for the BJP for all-round development of the state.
Modi said he was not born to rule but too serve the people. “Modi ka janm raj karne ke liye nahin janmanas ki seva ke liye hua hai,” he said as the people applauded.
“Uttar Pradesh has seen a lot of politics, has witnessed all types of games. Those who wanted to indulge in playing games, they have done that, those who wanted to gain, have gained,” he said.
“Sometimes SP, other times BSP, their world continued but your world remained unchanged. If you want to transform Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh in the coming 10 years, then come out of this SP-BSP stranglehold,” said Modi.
Attacking both the SP and the BSP which have been in power in the state alternatively, Modi said these parties target each other publicly but were friends behind the curtains.
“Enough is enough, if you want to change the fortunes of the state, then get out of this SP-BSP stranglehold. This is the moment to get rid of the SP-BSP stranglehold, this is a moment to get Uttar Pradesh free from the SP and the BSP,” the Prime Minister added.
