Cong weighs consequences

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 22

Historical baggage of upturning the Shah Bano verdict still weighing, the Congress today hailed the Supreme Court verdict quashing instant triple talaq as un-Islamic and said the move was an affirmation of the rights of Muslim women and grants relief to them.

Conscious of the ruling BJP’s attempts to make political capital from the issue, Congress rushed to describe the verdict as a victory of Muslim women rather than of anybody else.

“The government is using the issue for vote bank politics. It should stop displaying double standards,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said hours before party vice-president Rahul Gandhi congratulated the women who fought for justice.

“Welcome the Supreme Court decision setting aside instant #TripleTalaq. I congratulate the women who fought for justice,” Rahul said, seeking to take the credit of SC order away from the BJP whose leaders spent the day hailing Modi government for supporting the cause of Muslim women in court. On political consequences, Congress leaders insisted there would be none noting that the “issue was over since the court had ruled against instant triple talaq”.