Shah Bano to Shayara Bano: How the Congress has transitioned

The question is whether the Congress has changed over a period of time or has taken a convenient stance on the matter.

The Congress appears to have made a significant transition from Shah Bano to Shayara Bano. Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court which in a 3:2 majority struck down instant triple talaq as unconstitutional.

Rahul Gandhi's reactions were in contrast to that of his father who brought about a law to overturn the Supreme Court's verdict in the Shah Bano case.

The Congress normally takes a defensive stand on minority related issues. However the party at least the top brass were quick in welcoming the judgment of the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Around 3 decades back the Supreme Court had ordered maintenance to be paid to a Muslim woman who was a victim of triple talaq. The famously known Shah Bano case triggered protests which led to the Rajiv Gandhi government bringing about a law to set aside the verdict.

The Congress attributes its new stance to changing times. The party cited its changed stance and even cited the Hindu Codification bill brought out by Nehru in 1952. As per this bill Hindu women did not have a right to inherit ancestral property. However the UPA government amended this bill which allowed Hindu women to have a right in ancestral property.

The question is whether the Congress has changed over a period of time or has taken a convenient stance on the matter. If one looks at the public sentiment over the triple talaq issue, it has been welcomed by a majority including some hardliners. This could have been probably why the Congress went all hog to openly welcome the historic verdict of the Supreme Court.

OneIndia News