Muslim women hold massive rally in Jaipur against triple talaq bill

Jaipur: Nearly two lakh women from the Muslim community on Wednesday came out in a mammoth rally in protest against the controversial Triple Talaq bill – officially named The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 - introduced by the Modi government. As if to give a fitting response to the government's propaganda that Muslim women generally welcome the bill, the processionists brought to a halt for five hours the city of Jaipur, capital of BJP-ruled Rajasthan.

The rally was in response to a call by the Women's Wing of the All India Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). Entirely organized, co-ordinated and controlled by women, the procession had a stunningly impressive participation by women.

The procession sought to send the message that the bill which criminalized triple talaq and provided for imprisoning the divorcing husband for upto three years, was in fact anti-women.

For the city of Jaipur, with a Muslim population of 12 lakhs, Milad Nabi processions arraying four to five lakhs are not strange, it was for the first time that Muslim women held their own rally coming out in such large numbers, commented Rajasthan Yuth Congress spokesman Sadiq Chauhan who witnessed the event. His feelings were echoed by Jaipur-born Secretary General of Jama'at-e-Islami Engineer Saleem.

The procession started at 10 a.m.from Char Darwaza and went round the city for three kilometers. When the vanguard of the procession reached the dais at Musafar Khana, its tail was yet to depart from Char Darwaza.

The rally ended with a pledge that they would not accept the triple talaq bill.

Five Crore signatures collected

The Jaipur rally was decided and organized by the Women's Wing of AIMPLB after gathering five crore signatures from across the country, said the organizer of the event and prominent activist of Jaipur Yasmin Faruqi. Out of the five crore signatures, 2.8 crore were by Muslim women and they were gathered through an intensive door-to-door campaign. Ms Faruqi said that the Modi government introduced the bill without any consultation with the Muslim community and with an intention to harass them.

AIMPLB Women's Wing President Dr Asma Saheera presided over the meeting. Board member Fathima Muzaffar, Sohrab Nadvi, Moulana Mahfooz Umrain and others addressed the rally.