COIMBATORE: Muslim religious traditions such as burqa (veil), polygamy and triple talaq are not questioned because of vote bank politics, Tripura governor Tathagata Roy has said. Addressing a gathering at a university here on the role of women in Indian polity, he said traditions had suppressed women in the country."Nobody questions about these traditions because it will affect their vote bank. Recently some steps were taken to create an atmosphere to make Muslim women aware of their rights, and they are beginning to come out and speak for themselves," he said.Noting that he was not against the Muslim community, Roy said: "I respect Muslims and their religion is as much important as Hinduism, Christianity or any other religion." While mentioning examples of some Muslim women who had spoken for their rights, Roy spoke about the Bangladeshi author Tasleema Nasrin, Syria-born psychiatrist practicing in the US Wafa Sultan, Pakistani author Irshad Manji and Dutch-American activist from Somalia, Ayaan Hirsi Ali.The Tripura governor was in Coimbatore to inaugurate a workshop at Avinashilingam University. During his speech, Tathagata Roy recalled the contribution of some women leaders in India, and, "Indian scriptures have mention of women playing an important role in public administration, and this continued till the 13th century when the Mughals invaded us. From then till the British rule, there were hardly any women who became prominent in public life."Roy took some names like Rani Lakshmibai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi , Jayalalithaa, Mamta Banerjee, Sushma Swaraj , Mayawati and Vasundara Raje to cite examples of women politicians in India. As for Indira Gandhi, he said she was the person behind the liberation of East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh. "On one hand, her work to liberate East Pakistan was commendable, the imposition of emergency in India was a bad idea."

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