Shariah Board is not a court. BJP-RSS is doing politics in the name of Shariat courts: Zafaryab Jilani, All India M… https://t.co/EGdqQi99nb — ANI (@ANI) 1531650311000

(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI: Accusing the BJP and RSS of politicizing the issue of Sharia courts, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday refuted reports suggesting that the Board had proposed to set up Shariat courts in all districts across the country."We have never talked about setting up Shariat courts in all districts across the country. Our motive is to set them up in places where it is required and where people want them," Zafaryab Jilani , member of the AIMPLB, told ANI.Earlier this month, it was reported that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the highest decision making body on Muslim affairs, had announced that it plans to open Darul-Qaza (Shariat courts) in all districts of the country to resolves issues in line with Islamic laws."At present, there are 40 such courts in Uttar Pradesh. We plan to open one such court in all districts of the country. The objective of Darul-Qaza is to resolve matters in light of Shariat laws instead of going to other courts," Jilani was quoted as saying by PTI.Today, Jilani further clarified that Shariah boards were not courts. "BJP-RSS is doing politics in the name of Shariat courts," he said at a press conference in the capital."The Board plans to set them up in places where it is required and where people want them," Jilani clarified.Jilani also said that the organization will hold workshops to create awareness about the Shariat courts across the country.Following the announcement, the Board faced flak from both the BJP and the Congress.Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said the special provision of a particular religion is always taken care by the Supreme Court and High Court and hence any other court is not needed."I do not subscribe to the idea. It is completely against the India Constitution. We have a well-established constitution, whenever there is a specific provision of a particular religion that is also being taken care by the Supreme Court and the High Court. I do not think there is a need to establish a Shariat court in all the districts," Rajeev Shukla said.Union minister of state for law and justice, PP Chaudhary, argued that the establishment of any court would have to be sanctioned by law.On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board's Wasim Rizvi claimed that the establishment of such institutions would lead to the creation of a "Kashmir-like situation in the whole country".