AMN / New Delhi
Congress party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of claiming personal credit for a recent relief granted to women Haj pilgrims by the Government of Saudi Arabia which allows them freedom to travel alone.
Reacting to PM’s remarks in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme that the present government had changed the rule that required a Muslim woman wanting to go to Haj to be accompanied by a male guardian, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, ‘trying to take undue credit. Saudi Government has relaxed the rule.
MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also rejected claims by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he had facilitated Muslim women’s travel for Haj without ‘Mahram’. Owaisi said that a regulation by Haj authorities of Saudi Arabia was in force for many years which allow women above the age of 45 years to perform Haj without a ‘Mahram’ if they travel with a group.He told reporters here that women above 45 years of age from Indonesia, Malaysia and several other countries had been performing Haj under this Saudi regulation.MP said if Modi had so much concern for Muslim women, he should do justice to Zakia Jafri, widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots”.
.“This is all tokenism. If Modi is really concerned about Muslim women, he should provide 7 percent reservation for them in education. He has two-third majority in Parliament and he can bulldoze a bill in this regard,” MP said. On the passing of a bill in Lok Sabha over triple talaq, MIM President said that if it became a legislation, it would be the biggest injustice to Muslim women.He argued that since marriage in Islam was a civil contract, there could be no penal provision. He also pointed out that the Supreme Court in its order on the issue did not ask the government to bring a criminal law.“Govt is saying that Muslim countries have banned triple talaq but the fact is that there is no penal provision in any Muslim country.”Owaisi alleged that the real objective of the govt was to do away with all forms of talaq and snatch Sharia from Muslims. MP said abandonment of married women was a bigger problem than divorce.
An Indian woman is free to travel alone, inside or outside the country from before Modi era. For Haj, if rules are not followed Saudi will not issue Visa. Fooling own followers? Said Shakeel Ahmed.