A political row intensified on Friday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders condemned remarks made by All India Imam Association president Maulana Mohammad Sajid Rashidi on the age of marriage for girls, asserting that India is governed by the Constitution and not by Sharia.
The controversy stems from Rashidi’s comments linking delayed marriages among girls with rising crimes such as rape. While defending his remarks, he said they had been taken out of context and insisted he had not advocated marriage below the legal age of 18.
BJP leaders reject Rashidi’s remarks
Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, said anyone unwilling to abide by the Indian Constitution should leave the country.
“Those who said that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together demanded Pakistan, and the partition of India happened, and those people went to Pakistan. I think if he (Maulana Sajid Rashidi) has a problem living here according to the Indian Constitution, then such people should go to Pakistan, and the Government of India will book their tickets if such people don’t have the money to go. But in India, there is the Indian Constitution, and it will be governed by it, and every Indian must strictly follow it,” Marandi said.
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain described Rashidi’s remarks as “very unfortunate” and accused him of tarnishing the image of the community.
“His statement is very unfortunate. We strongly condemn it. By making such statements, he is defaming the entire community. He should not use such language, and he should apologise,” Hussain said.
BJP MP Brijlal also criticised Rashidi’s comments and reiterated that the country’s laws are governed by the Constitution.
“Tell Rashidi Sahab that this country is run by the Constitution, not by Sharia, and remember, it will never be run by Sharia. Their statement is absolutely wrong that rapes are happening because age has increased; earlier, girls as young as ten were married off, and that’s when the mistreatment happened. I condemn those who keep talking about Sharia-Sharia; this country will not be run by Sharia,” Brijlal said.
Rashidi says remarks were politicised
Rashidi, president of the All India Imam Association, defended his earlier comments amid mounting criticism. He said his remarks were intended to discuss social reform and had been misrepresented as support for child marriage.
According to Rashidi, he never suggested that girls should be married before the age of 18. He alleged that political opponents had distorted his statement.
“The reason I said that was because of the prevailing circumstances–where laws can be introduced allowing a woman to marry another woman or a man to marry another man, and where a married woman can choose to live with another man without facing legal consequences. In a country with such laws, if one suggests marrying off a girl early to prevent the risk of rape or untoward incidents, it is bound to become a political issue. People will misconstrue it, and who are these people? My only point is: what is wrong with adopting a good practice found in Sharia or any other religion?”
“…My statement is being politicised–and by whom? By the very people who frame laws but also possess the capacity to and do violate them. These people do not want to see social reform. I spoke in the interest of social reform; Islam itself prescribes that a girl should be married once she attains puberty. I can name six or seven states–such as Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan–where child marriage still occurs. Parents often marry off daughters who are uneducated at an early age. All of this is happening in society…Islam also advises that a girl should be married once she reaches puberty…What wrong did I say that has sparked such a political controversy–claiming that Rashidi Sahab advocated for marrying off girls under eighteen? I never said that,” he said.