The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which has the authority of taking decisions on issues of the Muslims today wants to increase its influence by opening Sharia courts in every district of the country. Zafaryab Jilani, senior member of the AIMPLB told PTI, “At present there are 40 such courts in Uttar Pradesh. We plan to open one such court in all districts of the country.” The objective of Darul-Qaza is to resolve matters in light of Sharia laws instead of going to other courts. According to AIMPLB, The Sharia courts so opened will decide matters related to ‘Triple Talaq and virasat’.
Elaborating further about the plans to expand the Sharia courts in districts across India, Jilanai said that a meeting of AIMPLB will take place in New Delhi on July 15th to discuss ways for organizing funds for the smooth functioning of the proposed courts. It also plans to activate its Tafheem-e-Shariyat (TeS) committee which according to Zilani will make lawyers, judges and common man aware about Sharia laws.
Such outrageous statement which is clearly contrary to the idea of ‘One Nation, One Constitution’ was bound to evoke responses from political parties and so it did. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its track record of minority appeasement, Congress soon came out in the support of Sharia courts, essentially backing AIMPLB’s stance. In a statement to Republic TV, Congress leader Zameer Ahmed said, “It will be a good step if the Sharia courts are set up. The law of the land will remain the same. We have only one Constitution but these Sharia courts will help in resolving minor family disputes. We have Sharia law in Bangalore also. If this law will come into implementation it will help build unity and spread awareness among Muslims.” The national leadership of Congress is yet to comment on the issue of Sharia courts but given its stance on Uniform Civil Code, Congress is likely to pander to minority voter base.
Amidst this insane race of pandering to minorities at the cost of denigrating the Constitution, the BJP has once again emerged as the voice of sanity and reason zealously defending the ethos of equality enshrined in the Indian constitution. Reacting to the AIMPLB’s demand of Sharia court in India, BJP has issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the very premise of this demand. BJP MP, Meenakshi Lekhi rubbished the demands for Sharia courts, stating “You can discuss religious matters but court binds this nation. There is no place for Sharia Court, be it district or village or city. Courts will work in accordance with law. This isn’t Islamic Republic of India.”
It is refreshing to see that the ruling party in India is above the minority appeasement politics and understands perfectly well that particular religion based judicial system such as Sharia courts do not have any place in a constitutional democracy. In opposing Sharia courts with such ferocity, the BJP has not only exposed the petty politics of Congress party but also its blatant minority appeasement to stay relevant in Indian politics at any cost.