PM Modi leads nation in hailing historic verdict

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court judgement on triple talaq as "historic" and said it grants equality to Muslim women. He said that the judgement will serve as a powerful measure for women empowerment.

"Judgement of the Hon'ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment," the prime minister tweeted.

BJP president Amit Shah described the Supreme Court verdict as historic and said it has given the right to crores of Muslim women in the country to live with equality and dignity. He also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a stand on the issue before the apex court.

"We welcome the verdict. The Supreme Court has given a historic decision. This verdict has given the right to crores of women to live with equality and dignity," Shah told reporters. He described the judgment as the "beginning of a new epoch for women to live with self-respect".

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi welcomed the Supreme Court verdict and congratulated the women who fought for justice. "Welcome the Supreme Court decision setting aside instant Triple Talaq. I congratulate the women who fought for justice," he said on Twitter.

Interestingly, Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal, who had represented an organisation that opposed the ban, said the verdict is welcome and not a setback. "We hail the judgment, it protects personal laws and at the same time deprecates the practice of triple talaq," Mr Sibal told reporters.

The Left parties welcomed the verdict. The CPI said the ruling "vindicates" its stated position towards opposing "instant" triple talaq. It also asked the government to show "political will" towards ensuring passage of women's reservation bill.