The Hindu : Bajrang Dal opposes grant for Muslim divorcees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Bajrang Dal opposes grant for Muslim divorcees

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR FEB. 1. The Bajrang Dal has decided to contest in the court of law the State Government's scheme for giving monthly maintenance assistance of Rs. 500 each to divorced Muslim women.

Addressing presspersons here, the Bajarang Dal's Coordinator for South India, Pramod Muthalik, said that apart from the legal recourse, his organisation had planned to launch a public movement against the "'Muslim appeasement'' package at the cost of the Exchequer.

He urged the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, to withdraw the scheme immediately or extend the same benefit to divorced women from the other communities.

The scheme was against the spirit of Constitution, he said.

Referring to the Shah Bhano case, he said though the Supreme Court ordered her husband to give her monthly maintenance assistance, she was denied justice in the name of "Shariat''. To keep its vote-bank intact, the Congress amended the Constitution permanently depriving Muslim women of justice, he charged.

Opposing the statement made by the Minister of State for Minority Development and Waqf, M.L. Ustad, that his department would facilitate the opening of waqf banks in every district, Mr. Muthalik said it was unnecessary since a finance corporation for minority development existed. The nationalised banks had been financing members of the minority community under a special quota, he added.Criticising the district administration of inaction in clearing the encroachment on Taj Baudi, an Adhilshahi monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), he said it had been decided to launch a "Save Taj Baudi'' agitation on the lines of the Dattapeetha movement.

Though the ASI had lodged a complaint, police chose not to act, under political pressure. Hindus had emotional attachment to the monument. During the annual Siddeshwar Jatra, devotees began "Nandikolu'' procession from there, he added. He said the banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was active in Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gulburga, Bidar, Hubli, and a few other towns. Claiming that 30 Bangladeshi families had taken refuge in Bijapur city, he said the Bajrang Dal had informed the authorities concerned.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Petroleum pipeline launch in March

Krishna yet to get Minister's resignation

Mixed response to Bt Cotton in Gulbarga Dt.

Bajrang Dal opposes grant for Muslim divorcees

Farmers will not repay loans: KRRS