[dropcap]N[/dropcap]owadays, #JusticeForJashodaben is trending almost every day on social media site Twitter after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised his voice against ‘Triple Talaq’. To counter this, BJP supporters are targeting Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi’s married life on social media battle field. Though, they had very happy married life with their respective spouse. Pandit Nehru always stayed with Kamala Nehru except when he was in prison or on political tour. Nehru was considered as good husband and a father. Though she died, but Nehru always cared for her and stands for her dignity. He had his share of affairs but that was in public domain and he never hides that. When Pandit Nehru became Prime Minister, he lived in Teen Murti Bhawan in New Delhi and at that time Feroze Gandhi, the husband of Indira Gandhi, was an Editor of National Herald which was published from Lucknow. Indira lived with Pandit Nehru but during weekends Feroze used to visit her from ‘Nawabo ka Shaher’ to national capital. Mr. Gandhi was MP from Rae Bareilly and whenever parliament session was on, he stayed with Indira, until his death. He was always with Indira and they both had two handsome sons. Their married life was very normal and with utmost poise.
There are many political leaders who don’t stay with their spouses for some or the other reasons. However, none of them had ever claimed that they are single. They never denied the passport or any sort of comforts to their partners. Earlier on a talk show with Rajat Sharma’s ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, Modi had accepted that he is eligible bachelor, when asked, if he ever regrets for not getting married? Actually, Rajat’s question should have been did Modi ever regret deserting his wife? Then the right reply from Modi would have been expected. The most funny aspect from Modi was that he blatantly refused to accept that he was ever married. He failed to remain honest till then.
If a ‘Pradhan Sevak’ of this country denies basic rights to a woman whom he declared as a wife (even today), it’s his moral duty to give her basics rights. It’s his moral obligation to declare to the world that he disowned her in due circumstances and now divorced her legally. You accept or you don’t accept, you give any logic or reason, since in 2014 Election affidavit he declared Jashodaben as his wife. So, she is still his wife and eligible for every basic right as a wife. Moreover, when Modi himself is fighting for the rights of Muslim women, vocal about education and dignity to woman, I am inspired by his speeches and chose a teacher who is educated, dignified but denied by her hubby and left to live with humiliation.
There were many publications who reported that Modi is indeed married, but has not spoken to his wife in more than 45 years and that he essentially abandoned her decades ago. However, Jashodaben Modi, who wedded to Narendra Modi when both were teenagers in an arranged marriage, said she remains devoted to him. The 63-year-old retired school teacher attends her husband’s rallies and prays for his electoral triumphs. She goes to Modi’s speeches to see him, but she never tells anyone and doesn’t disclose her identity. They have not spoken since he left. According to Jashodaben’s relatives, Modi left her when they were both 18 years old in the late 1960s so that he could pursue his political career. Reportedly, Modi refused to accomplish his marriage and furiously left his native village of Vadnagar after an argument with his in-laws. He soon joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Modi’s peculiar marital (or bachelor) status has not gone unnoticed by his supporters and haters. Jashodaben lives in a rented accommodation. Why does not he get a bungalow for her and provide her facilities, when he has become such a big leader? How can somebody, who cannot respect and take care of his wife look after the nation? Mr. Modi who hardly takes any questions on his private life, had always refused to comment on the matter. When Modi successfully contested four successive elections to become the chief minister of Gujarat, he had always left blank the column on documents that asked about his marital status. The declaration of his marital status turned out to be a huge embracement for him. However, his family and supporters gave a defence argument saying Buddha also left his wife, son and also kingship for a noble cause of showing light to mankind. What an example by blind supporters of PM? Buddha left his wife searching for a solution to end the miseries of the world. Modi left his wife to fulfill his own ambitions. Buddha tried to solve problems of his people. Modi tries to inflate balancesheet of a few. He has always left the column for information on marital status in his affidavits blank, marking the space with a short dash. This is the first time that he has publicly acknowledged the existence of his wife. Whereas, Buddha was honest in his “Grihasta Aashram” (family life) loved his wife, returned to her when he attained what he wanted and then sacrificed his life for the mankind. Let us not stretch this meaningless comparison anymore. Now, Narendra Modi’s wife wants to know what privileges she is entitled to as the spouse of India’s prime minister. She is still waiting for his call; she is looking for her husband to talk to her. She wants justice to be done to her.
Anyway, being woman I can feel her pain, and wish somewhere her struggle will end and she will get justice from the man who wants to deliver justice to Muslim women.
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