What are your comments on the Supreme Court order?
It is a historic judgment. It is not possible today to make a realistic assessment of the impact of this judgment, which has removed the sword of triple divorce that hung over Muslim women but it has also sent a strong message of gender equality and dignity.
Is this a vindication of your politics and resignation?
What I had done was dictated by my conscience and for that no outside vindication is needed. So I see it as a victory for very ordinary Muslim women and their organisations who with very meagre resources fought this battle against oppression.
Why did Rajiv Gandhi give in to conservative elements?
I have said this several times and repeat my answer again. I hold that Mr Rajiv Gandhi was a modern man and there was no chance of his succumbing to conservative groups. In fact he had made that noting on the file too.
Who in the congress then wanted triple talaq to stay?
When pressure came from wise old men of Congress like Mr Narsimha Rao, Mr ND Tewari and Mr Arjun Singh, who held that social reform of Muslims is not the responsibility of Congress; and nothing should be done that may disturb the political constituency, then Rajiv Ji listened to their advice. I am not criticising these leaders. I also feel that reforms cannot be imposed from outside. But that one decision created backlash that the government sought to manage by organising unlocking of the gate in Ayodhya.
Should this judgement be treated as a starting point for further reforms in minority personal laws?
The SC judgement is a gamechanger. This is the start of the journey, not the destination. I hope many more battles will be initiated to secure constitutional rights like equality and dignity. Today the faith of the common man in our constitution and our judiciary has been redoubled.
What is your opinion on the Uniform Civil Code of Law?
In making laws we can ensure that the proposed law prescribes nothing that is prohibited by any religion and does not prohibit anything prescribed by a religion as an obligation. Make a law that has room for diversity.
