The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which concluded a two-day workshop in Jaipur last Sunday for ulemas, legal experts and women’s activists affiliated with it, has reiterated that women’s rights are well protected under the Sharia. It clearly will not change its position on any of the three issues.

The AIMPLB has also decided to up its campaign and mount signature drives, especially among women, on the issue of triple talaq. In recent years, the RSS too has given impetus to its activities among Muslims and pioneered the Muslim Rashtriya Manch. From available indications, efforts to strengthen the organisations will be a priority area.

But for it to secure wider support from the community, the BJP and the government must initiate efforts to eliminate suspicion in the community. Until efforts are not made to reverse the electoral isolation of Muslims, efforts in this direction will at best remain superficial. The list of people who claim to represent Muslims is long but hardly credible. The government will serve its cause by not adding to this.