Rahul Gandhi’s Congress prevents party MP Asrarul Haque from voicing against Talaq Bill

Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Maulana Mohammad Asrarul Haque has obliquely criticised the party high command for not allowing him to voice against the controversial Talaq Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this week in spite of severe opposition from Muslim women across Indian.

Haque, who represents Bihar’s Kishanganj seat in the parliament, said in an interview that the so called Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill is not only against the Islamic Shariah but also against Indian constitution and Muslim women of the country. 

Muslim scholars across India including women have termed the Bill draconian which can snatch the fundamental rights of Muslim men and women if implemented. The Bill proposes three year jail term for a husband (only if he is a Muslim) if his wife accuses him of giving her instant triple talaq.

The Bill, a brainchild of BJP, was passed in Lok Sabha last Thursday with the support of Rahul Gandhi led Congress party. The Bill is likely to sail through the Rajya Sabha too if Congress continues to support it. 

75-year-old Haque, who is also the Bihar state president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said that he would never accept his party’s stance on the controversial Bill.  He also said that he wanted to vote against it but couldn’t reach the Parliament on time due to traffic jam. “I am sad that my party did not allow me to speak against the Bill in the parliament. I request my party to oppose the Bill at least in Rajya Sabha,” he said.