OBCs, Dalits and Muslim women on BJP’s ‘pro-social justice’ poll agenda

New Delhi, August 11
Giving a push to its OBC, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes agenda for the 2019 General Elections, the BJP would observe countrywide “social justice fortnightly” from August 1-15.

The programme, which is at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will highlight Narendra Modi government’s legislative initiative, including on Triple Talaq Bill that makes instant divorce to Muslim women a criminal offence in Rajya Sabha. The Congress and other opposition parties alleged obstructionist role thwarting passage of the Bill on the last day of the just concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament would be highlighted.
Announcing about the programme, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said all the Union Ministers and MPs would take part in it.
Also, the party will observe “Social Justice Week” from August 1-9, every year. Flaying Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for obstructing passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in the Upper House, Ananth Kumar said the party had history of being against the right of Muslim women.
Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress government overturned the Supreme Court’s pro-Muslim women judgment in the Shah Bano case.
“The NDA government had to defer the Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha under pressure from the Opposition parties to ensure passage of two other Bills,” Ananth Kumar said. He claimed that government did not “force its way despite having majority in the House”—strength that was clearly demonstrated when NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh won election for deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha.
“They did not the Bill to pass even though the government had proposed three amendments providing safeguards against misuse of the law,” Kumar said, calling women rights organisations, particularly Muslim women, to pressure “Rahul Gandhi” into allowing the Bill to pass.
Asked what the central government would do next about the Bill, he said the government hadn’t decided yet.
Ordinance route or Joint Session of Parliament are said to be some of the measures under the government’s consideration.