New Delhi: Asserting that it is true that no one is perfect, President Pranab Mukherjee has in the second volume of his autobiography ‘The Turbulent Years 1980-1996’ stated that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s actions on the Shah Bano judgement and the Muslim women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill drew criticism and eroded his modern image.
The Supreme Court had on April 23, 1985 passed a historic judgment in the Mohammed Ahmed Khan v/s Shah Bano case, under section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973 that the destitute divorced wife is entitled for maintenance after divorce would be applicable to Indian Muslim.
The Rajiv Gandhi government enacted the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which set aside the Shah Bano verdict.
The events that took place actually shook the faith in how people have manipulated Islam, the need for Uniform Civil Code, and how Congress used religion as a tool to get votes. (ANI)