More than 30,000 women walked in a rally on Tuesday, protesting against the Triple Talaq Bill and demanding a rollback of the bill. Dressed in burqas and naqabs, the women had at first gathered at the Muslim Institute Hall off Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road in central Kolkata, where women leaders talked about how the Bill was an intervention into Shariya or Islamic law.
Later, they walked to Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Esplanade area and while they gathered there, a delegation of six women went to submit a deputation to governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. They said: "The content of the Bill is against the constitution of India, it is anti-women and anti-children. The Bill is anti social as the civil contract is penalised, converting civil matter into criminal offence." Maulana Abu Talib Rehmani, member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and president, Islah-e-Muashrah Committee, who was present at the gathering, said that he was grateful to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee because TMC MPs had opposed the Bill at the Rajya Sabha. Suboohi Aziz, secretary, All Bengal Muslim Women's Association, said that they would want the West Bengal CM to be more vocal. "We are hopeful that Mamata Banerjee will support us and she should suggest that Islamic analysts should analyse the Bill before accepting or rejecting it," she said. She also said that all Muslim women accepted Shariya or the Islamic law as it is and did not want any change in it.
"The Prime Minister seems to be very concerned with the welfare of Muslim women and also has the support of some renegade Muslim women. What he doesn't tell others that it is the only religion where women, too, can divorce their husbands if they felt suppressed and were subject to cruelty," she said. She added that along with five others, she had been to the Governor's House and submitted a deputation. "We have suggested that the Bill should be withdrawn as it is against the Constitution of India and against women's rights and gender justice. We have requested that the sentiments of the second largest community members of the country should not be hurt," she said.
ISSUES OF FAITH
The women leaders talked about how the Bill was an intervention into Shariya or Islamic law. Maulana Abu Talib Rehmani said he was grateful to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee because Trinamool Congress MPs had opposed the Bill at the Rajya Sabha.