In 1985, Supreme court of India gave a judgement in favour of a Muslim divorcee Shah Banu that her husband should give alimony to her. Muslim fundamentalists in India treated it as an encroachment in Muslim Personal Law and protested against it. Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, agreed to their demands and cited the gesture as an example of "secularism". In 1986, the Congress (I) party, which had an absolute majority in Parliament at the time, passed an act that nullified the Supreme Court's judgment in the Shah Bano case. The Shah Bano case generated tremendous heat in India. It proved that fundamentalist minorities can exert pressure on government and judicial decisions. The mainstream media disapproved of the decision. The opposition reacted strongly against the Congress party's policies (which, according to BJP, reflect "Pseudo-secularism".)
The case has led to Muslim women receiving a large, one-time payment from their husbands during the period of iddat, instead of a maximum monthly payment of 500 Rs (around 10 US dollars per month) - an upper limit which has since been removed. Cases of women getting lump sum payments for lifetime maintenance are becoming common.
RE:Shah Bano Case
by prachi on Nov 03, 2007 01:25 PM Permalink
What BJP did when it came to power later Power ..." ENJOYED RESPECTING CONGRESS DECISON"
RE:Shah Bano Case
by Nikhil on Nov 03, 2007 01:30 PM Permalink
Ms Prachi - today Sonia refused to increase air fare for Haj - it is 5000 rs since ages - why?
RE:Shah Bano Case
by SP on Nov 03, 2007 02:05 PM Permalink
Your BJP was also in power in Centre for almost 6 years, why they have not banned such special privileges to Huj pilgrims? When any party get power, whether it is BJP, Congress or CPM, they will simply forget their basic ideologies. If BJP is having that much hatred against Muslims, why its leaders arrange Iftar party? Even now BJP leaders participate in Iftar parties? Before becoming PM, Vajpayee used to go to the Iftar party of Delhi Imam and shared chicken, beef and drinks with him. So all politicians want the support of muslims. Since BJP is not in power at the Centre, the leaders are silent. If they come back again in power, they will start licking the muslim leaders' feet.
