BJP leader and minister in Yogi Adityanath government Swamy Prasad Maurya has stirred a fresh controversy with his remark that ‘there is no gender equality and women have third class status in Islam’.
"Muslim men resort to triple talaq to quench their 'lust' by changing wives," he had told reporters here yesterday.
The minister also added that BJP is standing shoulder to shoulder with Muslim women on the issue of triple talaq, but claimed that "Muslim personal law board has no provision on the issue".
"Muslim men leave women to die on the streets with her children," Maurya said.
Maurya’s this remark prompted the All India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) to demand his resignation.
"Where on the one hand, Muslim women are fighting for their injustice, Cabinet Ministers like Swamy Prasad Maurya are making such obnoxious statements. He should be given strict punishment and should be sacked from his post. I would appeal to Yogiji to send Maurya to a mental asylum,” AIMWPLB President, Shaista Amber, said.
Claiming that he has humiliated Muslim women across the nation with his statement, Amber appealed to the government that he should be taught how to respect women.
"This is disturbing. They don’t know Islam at all. If he won’t apologize, I will go to the Supreme Court against him if needed," she added.
Meanwhile, citing examples of 'triple talaq' and the practice of 'marrying four wives' in Islam, firebrand BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said that ‘Maurya made correct remarks’ and ‘Islam permits men to commit atrocities against women’.
"There is no doubt that in Islamic practice and preaching women have been given second or third class status. Triple talaq, marrying four wives tradition are examples of that," Swamy said.
"Maulanas may disguise the fact but this is the reality of Muslim religion," he added.
