Centre firmly behind victims of triple talaq: Ravi Shankar Prasad

NEW DELHI: The Centre was firmly behind the victims of triple talaq, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here today.

He added that while India respected freedom of religion and faith, "discriminatory" practices could not be held an integral part of it and protected.

Prasad cited the practice of untouchability to assert that religious practices needed to be in accordance with the Constitutional values and emphasised that "gender justice, gender equality and gender dignity" were at the core of the government's priority.

"Can, in a secular country like India, a big chunk of women be forced to live in a state of vulnerability," he asked.

Prasad said the government was firmly behind the victims of triple talaq. "Now, talaq is being given on WhatsApp...is this vulnerability permissible in our Constitution," he asked.

The BJP leader pointed out that many countries, including Iran, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, had abolished the practice.

"These are Islamic countries and they have regulated triple talaq, which has not been found to be violative of Sharia law (personal law)," he said.

The Law Minister was responding to a series of questions on triple talaq and the Centre's stand on the issue in the Supreme Court.