'Congress Stands For Muslim Men, But Do They Care For Muslim Women as Well?' PM Modi Takes Jibe at Rahul Gandhi
An Urdu daily, earlier in the week, quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying that the Congress is a 'party for the Muslim community'.
New Delhi, July 14: Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's alleged remark where he associated his party with the Muslim community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he knows that the "Congress stands for Muslim men", but is unsure whether they care for the women among the minority community as well.
"I have read in newspaper that the Congress president has said that Congress is a 'party of Muslims'. I am not surprised by this. All I want to ask is: Is their party only for Muslim men or for women too?" Modi questioned, while addressing a rally in Azamgarh where he laid foundation stone to the Rs 23,000 crore Purvanchal Expressway project.
Modi said his government attempted to address the plight of Muslim women subjected to instant divorce through triple talaq. But the Congress, he added, is leaving no stone unturned to keep the patriarchal practice intact.
"We brought the bill to criminalise triple talaq but the Congress is not allowing it to get passed," the Prime Minister said.
The legislation on instant triple talaq went through the Lok Sabha - where the government enjoys a clear majority - in the previous Budget Session. However, in the Rajya Sabha, where Opposition holds the numbers edge, a debate has been sought on the merits of the proposed law.
'Rahul Gandhi's Muslim party remark'
An Urdu daily, earlier in the week, quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying that the Congress is a "party for the Muslim community". Although the Congress has called it a fake news, the BJP has accused the party of playing "communal politics" ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the onus of "all disharmony" which will be caused now is on the Congress. "They are playing with fire," she alleged.
Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev has issued a clarification, claiming that Rahul has been misquoted by the Urdu daily. "We stand for 130 crore Indians, which include Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and people of all faiths, castes and creed," she said.
Historian Irfan Habib, who was part of the delegation of Muslim leaders who met Rahul Gandhi, said the latter did not issue "any such remark" which has stoked a controversy. "He never said that the Congress is a Muslim party or a party only for Muslims," Habib clarified.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2018 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).