UP govt’s sole Muslim min demands ban on AIMPLB

Lucknow: Yogi government’s sole Muslim minister Mohsin Raza on Tuesday called for a ban on All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) describing it as an unconstitutional entity for supporting triple talaq. Describing it as ‘All India Maulawi (Cleric) Personal Law Board’, he said the organization was working on the whims and fancy of the board members, instead of taking care of the community’s concerns and well-being.

"AIMPLB should not be called Muslim Personal Law Board but a Maulawi (Cleric) Personal Law Board. Such an organization should be banned as it does not work for the welfare of society but endorses practice like triple talaq which is exploitation of women,” Mohsin, who is MoS for science and technology, said in Lucknow while commenting on the board’s stance on the issue.

At its executive committee meeting in Lucknow on Sunday, the AIMPLB though described triple talaq as unjust and issued a code of conduct to curb the menace, it maintained that utterance of “talaq” three times in one sitting does lead to divorce.

“Triple talaq does not come under the purview of the Constitution. Any organization should work according to the Constitution of India," Mohsin said. Taking on the

clerics

for not opposing triple talaq, he said “Allah (God) does not approve of anyone offering namaz under the influence of alcohol but the

maulvis

of today say that triple talaq will end a nikaah (marriage) even if it is pronounced by a drunk man.”

Expectedly, the UP minister’s ban call has triggered some sharp reactions from the board members, some even demanding a clarification from the government on the issue. While AIMPLB’s vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq could not be contacted for comments, board’s general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani described the minister’s statement as frivolous. “God has given everybody the ability to speak … now it is for the individual to use this ability wisely or otherwise.”

However, member of the Board’s executive committee Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Maheli sought a clarification from the government on the minister’s comment. “The board has representations from all the sects of Muslim community apart from eminent personalities like academics, retired high court judges and scholars. Such remarks, that too coming from a minister, are surprising to say the least.