AIADMK’s Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha M.P. Anwar Raja revealed a hitherto unknown face of him in the Lok Sabha yesterday when he delivered a lengthy speech criticizing the BJP-ruled Centre for making ‘Triple Talaq’ a criminal offence through an Act for which the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

Airing his views on the Bill, Raja said “Islam had given equal rights to men and women. Muslim women are not in a pathetic situation wherein others have to wage a struggle to get them their due rights. A change, if necessary, ought to originate from the community concerned. For example, the Devdasi and Sati traditions were opposed by the Hindus who successfully eradicated those rituals in due course.

“All India Muslim Personal Law Board would take corrective action in the issue if the need arises. ‘Triple Talaq’ Bill is not good for Muslim women as they would be robbed of the ‘one-time’ settlement given at the time of divorce. This would render them take to streets like beggars. BJP only attempts to implement its sectarian practices through the passing of the Bill,” he thundered.

“Triple Talaq is not a good thing but shouldn’t be treated as a criminal offence either,” Raja said. In the meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, a journalist and former Congressmen, took a dig at the Congress for dragging its feet on the issue and argued strongly in favour of pushing through the Bill.

Cleared by the Lok Sabha, the Bill might find the going tough in the Rajya Sabha to get it passed.