Parda, polygamy and triple talaq have suppressed Muslim women: Tripura governor Tathagata Roy

COIMBATORE: Muslims are not questioned for their crimes because of vote bank politics, said

Tripura governor Tathagata Roy

at a university event here on Saturday. Roy was addressing on furthering the role of women in Indian polity, and said that traditions like parda (veil), polygamy and triple talaq have suppressed women in the country.

Roy said that the reason we do not find enough women making inroads in politics is because of the suppression by the society. “Nobody questions about these traditions because it will affect their vote bank. Most of these traditions are followed by Muslims,” said Roy. “Recently some steps have been undertaken to create an atmosphere where

Muslim women

are made aware of their rights, and they are beginning to come out and speak for themselves,” he added.

Roy said that he is not against the Muslim community. “I respect Muslims and their religion is as much important as the Hindu, Christian or any other religion,” he said. Quoting examples of some Muslim women who have spoken for their rights, he spoke about famous Bangladesh author, Tasleema Nasrin, a Syria-born psychiatrist practicing in the US, Wafa Sultan, Pakistan-born Irshad Manji who is an author and educator in Canada, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Dutch-American activist originally from Somalia.

The Tripura Governor was in the city to inaugurate a workshop at Avinashilingam University. During his speech, Roy also recalled the contribution of some women leaders in India. He said, “According to Indian scriptures women play an important role in public administration, and this continued till the 13th century when the Mughals invaded us. From then till the British rule, there were hardly any women who became prominent in public life.”

Roy took some names like Rani Lakshmibai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, J Jayalalithaa, Mamta Banerjee, Sushma Swaraj, Mayawati and Vasundara Raje to cite examples of women politicians in India. He said that Indira Gandhi was the person behind the liberation of East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh. “On one hand her work to liberate East Pakistan was commendable, the imposition of emergency in the country was a bad idea,” he said.

He also recalled the role of woman like Fathima Jinnah, the sister of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. “She poisoned Jinnah after the death of his wife,” he said.