Ban Muslim personal law board: UP minister Mohsin Raza

LUCKNOW: Yogi government's sole Muslim face Mohsin Raza on Tuesday called for a ban on All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for supporting triple talaq and described it as an unconstitutional entity .

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

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

Slamming AIMPLB, Raza said: “Triple talaq does not come under the purview of the Constitution. Any organisation should work according to the Constitution of India.“ 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 , Raza's call has triggered sharp reactions from the board members with 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, the board's general secreta ry 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,“ he said.

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 the 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,“ he said.