The popular perception about the BJP’s idea of gender has been one of limiting women to culturally defined roles. But with an increased emphasis on initiatives like Triple Talaq ban, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala, the BJP has managed to address and cultivate a female vote bank.
With Triple Talaq, Ujjwala and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, has the BJP appropriated the gender agenda politically?
Despite being the world’s largest democracy, when it comes to the question of women’s equality and justice, we are not a shining example.
Unfortunately, in our country everything tends to be viewed from the lens of politics. While framing the Constitution, one of the biggest concerns in the minds of Nehru and Ambedkar was that the domination of religion and culture will make it very difficult for women to become equal despite the Constitution. That concern was genuine and has proved to be correct.
In our country, all political parties suffer from a patriarchal mindset and all political parties do politics of appeasement when it comes to women’s equality question.
The BJP supported our request for Triple Talaq through a very good affidavit in the Supreme Court, is also wary of talking about marital rape.
This has been a face of political class in our country. They have no commitment towards woman’s equality and justice in the country and this applies to all parties.
Here are other sharp perspectives on the question BJP’s political appropriation on the agenda of gender :
Subhashini Ali: leader of the CPI (M).
Madhu Kishwar: Indian academic and writer
Priyanka Chaturvedi: national spokesperson for the Indian National Congress
Sunalini Kumar: political scientist, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University
In three major political parties women are presidents – Sonia Gandhi, Mamta Banerjee and Mayawati. All these 3 parties are as patriarchal as the BJP. This whole talk about BJP trying to appropriate the credit in these 3 situations (in the question), is hollow talk.
Political parties are trying to appropriate the women’s agenda, but are not succeeding. We all know that Triple Talaq has been abolished because of hundreds and thousands of Muslim women who came out openly and who fought against it so courageously. Similarly, the domestic violence act was brought about in this country because of the involvement of so many feminist groups. The Congress cannot take credit for the domestic violence act. Similarly the credit of the Supreme Court’s judgment on Triple Talaq goes only to the Muslim women, and not to the BJP.
I am saying the government affidavit in the Triple Talaq matter was a very welcome step, but then they were just fulfilling their constitutional duty. They were not doing us any favour. We would have challenged any affidavit other than the one they filed.