A relook into the Shah Bano case in which the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government overturned a SC verdict in the 1980s emphatically proves that Congress is guilty of the very charge of appeasement and religious persecution it is making against the Narendra Modi-led government
Bengaluru: With both houses of the Indian Parliament passing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, it is truly a glorious era for those persecuted Hindus and other non-Muslims living in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to become citizens of India.
However, Congress, the chief opposition party, which has robust support from other parties on this issue, is crying foul. Its president Sonia Gandhi also termed December 11 as a “dark day” in India’s democracy.
But in simple terms, as Union home minister Amit Shah has promised that the bill has nothing to do with Indian Muslims, the Congress’s claim of dividing India on the basis of religions holds no water!
In fact, if there is any party to be blamed for manipulating laws and even Supreme Court verdict to suit its whims and fancies, it is the Congress.
For all the accusations and allegations the Congress makes, the party would do well to introspect its move in the 1980s when it overturned a Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case.
Shah Bano, a mother of five from Indore approached the Supreme Court in relation to the divorce from her husband in the year 1978.
Though the Supreme Court held that her former husband had to give her alimony, the Congress government, headed by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, enjoying a phenomenal majority at that point in time, reversed the Supreme Court verdict, after getting trepidation that he would face the wrath of the Islam orthodoxy and suffer electorally.
So keeping this in mind, in the year 1986, an act titled The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, was passed in contradiction to the SC verdict.
This act allowed maintenance to a divorced woman only during the period of iddat, or till 90 days after the divorce, according to the provisions of Islamic law.
The BJP was rightfully severe in its criticism saying the Congress was shamelessly appeasing the minority community.
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