NCP distances itself from Maharashtra MLA Sana Malik's remarks on polygamy

The Nationalist Congress Party NCP on Saturday distanced itself from remarks made by its MLA Sana Malik in the Maharashtra Assembly on polygamy and triple talaq clarifying that her statements reflected her personal views and not the partys official positionMaharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare issued a statement on social media asserting that the party remains committed to protecting womens rights irrespective of caste religion or faith and fully respects the legal position on triple talaqThe clarification came after Maliks comments during an Assembly debate earlier this week drew criticism from political leaders and triggered a wider debate over Muslim Personal Law and womens rightsMaliks remarks sparked controversyThe controversy began during a discussion in the Maharashtra Assembly on issues faced by Muslim women in the context of the practice of triple talaqDuring the debate BJP MLA Devayani Farande said that polygamy is practised by only a small percentage of men in Pakistan and that a man is required to obtain official permission before entering into a second marriageResponding to the remarks Malik said If anything is mentioned in the Quran and if it is implemented in Pakistan then we demand that this shall be brought here tooHer statement drew sharp criticism from several political leaders and womens rights advocatesOn Thursday Malik clarified that she was not supporting polygamy but was merely referring to the legal framework governing the practice in PakistanNCP says remarks were personalSeeking to distance the party from the controversy Sunil Tatkare said Maliks comments did not represent the NCPs official standThe statement made by MLA Sana Malik on the issue of talaq is her personal opinion The Nationalist Congress Party NCP does not endorse those views Tatkare said in a post on XHe reiterated that the party has consistently supported the protection of womens rights regardless of religion or communityReaffirms support for womens rightsTatkare said the NCP believes that no woman should face arbitrary or unilateral dissolution of marriageThe partys position is that no woman should face the constant threat of a onesided and unjust dissolution of marriage he saidHe added that the party remains committed to the values enshrined in the Constitution and follows the ideology of ShivShahuPhuleAmbedkarTatkare also underlined that the Supreme Courts judgment on triple talaq and the legislation enacted by Parliament on the issue are binding and must be respectedSupports constitutional right to express viewsWhile disagreeing with Maliks remarks Tatkare said she was entitled to express her personal views as an elected representativeHe clarified that the statements she made during the Assembly debate were in her individual capacity and should not be interpreted as the partys official positionThe clarification is aimed at distancing the NCP from the controversy while reiterating its commitment to constitutional values womens rights and the legal framework governing triple talaq in IndiaWith inputs from PTI